A cluster of opinion surveys released between 17-20 August points to a modest uptick in President Donald Trump’s job-approval ratings. InsiderAdvantage put national approval at 54 percent, its highest reading this summer, while Rasmussen Reports’ daily tracking survey showed an even split of 49 percent approve and 49 percent disapprove on 20 August. DecisionDeskHQ’s weekly average also moved in Trump’s favour, rising roughly four points to leave the president four points underwater overall. Other pollsters continue to show the president in negative territory. An Economist/YouGov poll conducted during the week of 18 August found 43 percent approve versus 54 percent disapprove, and The Economist’s multi-poll tracker pegs Trump’s net rating at –15. State-level data from Morning Consult underline the geographic divide: approval edges into positive territory in Georgia and Nevada at 50 percent, yet lags badly in Maryland at 36 percent. The bounce follows Trump’s high-profile meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska; a YouGov snap poll on the summit registered 46 percent approval of the event, compared with 41 percent disapproval. Despite the president’s gains, Democrats maintain a consistent lead on the congressional ballot. Two SoCal Strategies surveys released 19 August put Democrats ahead 42-45 percent to 37 percent for Republicans. Looking ahead to the 2028 race, the same firm gives Democratic Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg a 41-37 margin over Republican Senator J.D. Vance in an early national matchup.