Examining the Evolving Public Support and Online Presence of Global Leaders in 2025
Donald Trump’s Approval Ratings: Past 12 Months
Below is a snapshot of President Trump’s national job‐approval ratings from the start of his second term through late August 2025. Approval has generally eroded over the year, with disapproval outpacing approval by mid-summer.
| Period | Approval | Disapproval | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2025 | 46% | 43% | Entered second term at 46% approve, 43% disapprove |
| 24-30 June 2025 | 51% | 47% | Rasmussen Reports survey |
| 15-18 August 2025 | 40% | 56% | YouGov/Economist poll |
| 15-28 August 2025 | 45.8% | 50.8% | RealClearPolitics average |
| August 31, 2025 | 41% | 56% | The Economist’s tracker (net approval –14%) |
| 21-25 August 2025 | 37% | 55% | Quinnipiac University poll |
Over the last year, Trump’s approval ratings slipped from a small positive margin at the start of his term to consistently negative net ratings by late summer—disapproval exceeding approval by roughly 10–15 points in most major surveys.
Broader Trends and Context
- Disapproval has steadily increased as key issues—such as economic management, trade policies, and ongoing legal controversies—have weighed on public opinion.
- Partisan splits remain stark: Republicans overwhelmingly continue to back his job performance, while Democrats almost uniformly disapprove.
- Younger voters have trended more negative over the year, with net approval among Gen Z at around –28 in August, up slightly from –38 in July but far below January’s +5.
- State-level polling shows Trump underwater in many swing states, which could have implications for the 2026 midterms.
Looking ahead, his approval trajectory will likely remain sensitive to economic indicators, legal developments, and geopolitical events, all of which will shape the political landscape through the remainder of his presidency and into the next election cycle.
The graph illustrating Trump’s approval (blue) and disapproval (red) over the past year is now available above. You’ll see:
- A rising approval line through mid-2025, peaking around June, followed by a decline into August.
- A complementary disapproval line that dips early in the year before climbing past approval by summer.
Narendra Modi’s Approval Ratings: Past 12 Months
| Period | Approval | Source |
|---|---|---|
| August 2024 | 70% | Ipsos IndiaBus survey |
| November 2024 | 70% | Ipsos IndiaBus survey |
| January 2025 | 75% | Indian Express report |
| July 2025 | 75% | Visual Capitalist analysis |
| August 29, 2025 | 72% | Statista research department |
Over the past year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s national approval has hovered in a narrow band, holding steady at 70 per cent through late 2024 before rising to 75 per cent in early 2025 and mid-2025, then easing slightly to 72 per cent by late August 2025. His sustained popularity reflects enduring public confidence amid economic growth and high-visibility policy initiatives.
Social Media Followings: Narendra Modi vs Donald Trump
The table below summarises follower counts for Narendra Modi and Donald Trump on two major platforms as of mid-2025.
| Platform | Narendra Modi | Donald Trump |
|---|---|---|
| X (formerly Twitter) | 108.9 M (July 2025) 109 M (Feb 2025) |
108 M (Jan 2025) 108.3 M (Feb 2025) |
| 96.6 M (Aug 2025) | 23.7 M (2025) |
By mid-2025, Modi edges out Trump on X by a slim margin, while maintaining a substantially larger Instagram audience.
Follower‐Count Trajectories for Narendra Modi and Donald Trump
Below is a concise timeline showing how each leader’s audience has grown on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram (where data is available).
Narendra Modi
- February 2016: 10.14 M followers on X
- February 2018: 40.43 M followers on X (up ~300 % in two years)
- September 2019: 50 M followers on X; 96 M on Instagram
- July 2024: 100 M followers on X (most-followed Indian, 2nd globally)
- Mid-2025 estimate: ~109 M followers on X; Instagram also climbed past 90 M
Modi’s X audience roughly doubled again between late 2019 and mid-2025, reflecting his continued emphasis on social media as a direct means of communication with citizens.
Donald Trump
- May 2009: Joined X and steadily built an audience
- January 2021: 88.9 M followers on X (just before platform ban)
- January 2023: 87.7 M followers on X; 23.3 M on Instagram
- Early 2025: Surpassed 100 M followers on X again after reinstatement; Instagram edged toward 24 M
After being reinstated to X in late 2022, Trump’s following rebounded beyond 100 M by 2025, while his Instagram base has seen only modest growth.
Comparative Snapshot
| Leader | Feb 2016 (X) | Sep 2019 (X / IG) | Jan 2023 (X / IG) | Jul 2024 (X) | Mid 2025 (X) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Narendra Modi | 10.14 M | 50 M / 96 M | — / — | 100 M | ≈ 109 M |
| Donald Trump | — | — / — | 87.7 M / 23.3 M | — | > 100 M |
Both figures underscore how digital platforms can accelerate reach: Modi’s account initially exploded, and then Trump’s rebounded strongly after his return to X.
Here’s a visual line chart plotting the follower‐count trajectories for both leaders on X and Instagram from 2016 through mid-2025.
- Narendra Modi’s X growth accelerates sharply post-2018, doubling again from 50 M to ~109 M by mid-2025.
- Trump’s X follows a plateau around 2019–2020, then climbs back past 100 M by 2025.
- Modi’s Instagram line starts high (96 M in 2019) and is inching upward, while Trump’s Instagram grows modestly into the mid-20 M range.
