The Mueller report's so-called exoneration did nothing for Trump's approval rating


President Trump is already satisfied with the Mueller report he got three weeks ago. Maybe he shouldn't be.
When Attorney General William Barr delivered his initial findings from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe in late March, Trump was quick to spin it as "total and complete exoneration." Yet Trump's conclusion — which isn't true, by the way — didn't really change how Americans felt about him.
After a low point during the government shutdown, Trump's approval ratings have hovered around 42 percent, per FiveThirtyEight's ongoing conglomeration of several polls. In fact, Trump saw a 42.1 percent approval rating on March 24, the day Barr released his infamous report findings. But instead of convincing the public of no collusion like Trump had hoped, it seems Barr's findings did absolutely nothing. On Thursday, as Congress is scheduled to receive the whole redacted Mueller report, Trump is at a solid 42 percent.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
FiveThirtyEight compiles dozens of polls into its approval rating matrix, "accounting for each poll's quality, recency, sample size and partisan lean," it says. Check out the rest of Trump's unchanging approval numbers here.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Giorgio Armani obituary: designer revolutionised the business of fashion
In the Spotlight ‘King Giorgio’ came from humble beginnings to become a titan of the fashion industry and redefine 20th century clothing
-
Crossword: September 13, 2025
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
-
Sudoku medium: September 13, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
House posts lewd Epstein note attributed to Trump
Speed Read The estate of Jeffrey Epstein turned over the infamous 2003 birthday note from President Donald Trump
-
Supreme Court allows 'roving' race-tied ICE raids
Speed Read The court paused a federal judge's order barring agents from detaining suspected undocumented immigrants in LA based on race
-
South Korea to fetch workers detained in Georgia raid
Speed Read More than 300 South Korean workers detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant will be released
-
DC sues Trump to end Guard 'occupation'
Speed Read D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the unsolicited military presence violates the law
-
RFK Jr. faces bipartisan heat in Senate hearing
Speed Read The health secretary defended his leadership amid CDC turmoil and deflected questions about the restricted availability of vaccines
-
White House defends boat strike as legal doubts mount
Speed Read Experts say there was no legal justification for killing 11 alleged drug-traffickers
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own list
speed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act
-
Court hands Harvard a win in Trump funding battle
Speed Read The Trump administration was ordered to restore Harvard's $2 billion in research grants