We asked a simple question: Compared with what you expected, how is President Donald Trump’s second term going?
The answer, at least from our readers, wasn’t close.
Out of 369 responses, an overwhelming majority — nearly nine in ten — said things are going worse than expected. Only a small slice felt the presidency is performing better than anticipated, with another modest group saying it’s about what they expected.
That result doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It builds on a pattern OutSFL has been tracking since the early days of Trump’s second term — one that has remained remarkably consistent.
In April, just months into his presidency, 90% of OutSFL readers said they disapproved of the job Trump was doing, with only 8% expressing approval. Six months later, in October, those numbers hadn’t budged. Again, 90% disapproved. Again, just 8% approved.
In an era where public opinion often shifts quickly, that kind of stability stands out.
While national polling paints a far more divided picture, OutSFL readers have been clear and unwavering. The community’s view of Trump hasn’t softened over time. If anything, it has hardened.
The new expectation-based question adds another layer to that story.
This wasn’t about approval. It wasn’t about ideology. It was about whether reality is matching what people thought they were getting when he won a second term.
And for most respondents, it isn’t.
That frustration came through clearly in the comments.
“Disgusting, disgraceful, disastrous and criminal,” one reader wrote.
Another didn’t mince words: “The worst ever prez since 1776.”
Others framed it in terms of broader concern and fatigue.
“I absolutely expected it to be a dismal failure. But what we've experienced has far surpassed my worst fears.” one respondent said.
“I never thought our country could succumb to the whims of a dictator, but that's what's happening. Every day there's some new atrocity. I'm scared!,” wrote another.
Some described the presidency in stark, emotional terms — “Depressing,” one reader summed up — while another called it “Hell on Earth.”
There were also respondents who said the moment is unfolding exactly as they expected.
“He's doing everything he said he would do,” one reader noted.
And a smaller number pushed back against the broader sentiment.
“Better than if Harris were president,” one respondent wrote.
Another added: “Too much Trump derangement in the gay community.”
A few offered full-throated support: “I love him. He is saving the world. Best president since [Ronald] Reagan.”
Still, those voices were the exception.
In October, 84% of readers said Trump’s policies had negatively affected their lives, compared to just 6% who reported a positive impact. Similar numbers were recorded in April.
Taken together, the data points to something deeper than simple disapproval. It suggests a sustained disconnect between what this presidency is delivering and what even its critics anticipated.
Of course, this is one audience — LGBTQ readers, many of whom say they feel directly impacted by federal policy decisions. But that context matters. For this community, politics isn’t abstract. It’s personal.
As earlier surveys made clear, most OutSFL readers never supported Trump. Even so, many now say his second term is worse than they imagined.
OutSFL conducted the survey via SurveyMonkey in March, with 369 respondents. This article was produced with the assistance of AI and edited by OutSFL staff.
