A new poll finds that six in ten Americans believe President Donald Trump has become more erratic as he ages.
Overall, 61% of respondents said they would describe Trump as “unfathomable with age,” the Reuters/Ipsos poll showed. Sentiment is sharply divided along party lines: 89% of Democrats, 64% of independents and 30% of Republicans agreed with the characterization.
The six-day poll ended on Monday (February 23), just before Trump’s annual State of the Union address to Congress.
Approval ratings remain stable
Despite concerns about his behavior, Trump’s overall job approval rating has remained relatively stable. The poll showed that 40% of Americans approve of his performance as president, up two percentage points from earlier in the month.
Although Trump began his current term with a 47% approval rating, his numbers have mostly stayed within a narrow range since April, suggesting that perceptions of erratic behavior have not dramatically shifted his base support.
Trump’s age and political pace
Trump returned to office in January 2025 at the age of 78, becoming the oldest president in US history on Inauguration Day. He should be 80 years old in June.
Since taking office, Trump has implemented aggressive policies, including sweeping tariffs on imports from dozens of countries and a nationwide expansion of federal immigration enforcement operations.
His return to the White House followed the 2024 election, in which age and mental fitness were central campaign issues.
Comparison with Biden
Trump’s victory over his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, came amid widespread concern about Biden’s mental acuity. Biden left office at the age of 82, making him the oldest sitting president in US history.
Trump, now 79, is on track to break that record if he completes his current term.
Perception of mental acuity decreases
The latest poll also found declining perceptions of Trump’s mental acumen. Only 45% of respondents described him as “mentally astute and able to meet challenges”, down from 54% in a September 2023 Reuters/Ipsos poll.
Among Republicans, 81% said Trump remains mentally sharp, a figure virtually unchanged since 2023. Among Democrats, that share fell to 19% from 29%. Independents also showed a non-negligible decline, with 36% now considering him mentally sharp, down from 53%.
Concerns about the aging of political leadership
The survey also highlights widespread concern about the age of America’s political leaders in general.
Seventy-nine percent of respondents agreed that “elected officials in Washington, DC, are too old to represent the majority of Americans.” The average age in the U.S. Senate is about 64, while members of the House of Representatives average 58.
Among Democrats, 58% said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, 75, is too old to serve in government, suggesting that concerns about age are spreading across party lines.
Survey methodology
The online survey was conducted among 4,638 US adults nationwide and has a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points.
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Key things
- A significant portion of Americans find Trump’s behavior erratic because of his age, especially among Democrats.
- Despite the perception of erratic behavior, Trump’s job approval rating has remained steady.
- Concerns about the age of political leaders are prevalent across party lines, pointing to a broader concern with aging leaders.
