Why It Matters
Trump has routinely touted positive approval ratings and polling while speaking at news conferences and campaign rallies, but declines in these numbers could hinder his political clout in an already highly polarized climate as the 2026 midterms approach.
When Trump returned to the White House in January, he came in with high approval figures. But after months marked by economic uncertainty and criticism the administration has faced over policies like his handling of immigration and his recently passed tax bill, the president has seen a dip.
The up and down nature of approval polls can paint a picture of the landscape heading into 2026 elections where Democrats hope to regain control of the House and the Senate.
What To Know
In Quinnipiac’s poll, the president has a 37 percent approval rating versus a 55 percent disapproval rating. The president’s approval rating in a July survey by the pollster shows him with a 40 percent approval rating versus a 54 percent disapproval rating.
Wednesday’s poll surveyed 1,220 self-identified registered voters across the country from August 21 to August 25 with a margin of error of 3.4 percent.
The president’s approval rating in June was 41 percent and 38 percent, 41 percent in an April poll, 42 percent in a March poll, 45 percent in February, and 46 percent approval in a January poll.
Quinnipiac also polled respondents on six issues including crime, talks to end the Russia-Ukraine war, foreign policy, the economy, trade and the Israel-Hamas conflict. The president’s approval ratings were underwater in every category, the poll shows.
The president also landed a record low poll this term from a Gallup survey in July. The president’s approval was 37 percent, approaching his 34 percent approval rating low before leaving office at the end of his first term, on the heels of the January 6 insurrection.
However, the president did secure a high approval rating from Republicans overall and broad approval among the party on each issue the poll from Gallup shows.
What People Are Saying
Trump this month on Truth Social: “Except what is written and broadcast in the Fake News, I now have the highest poll numbers I’ve ever had, some in the 60’s and even 70’s. Thank you. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
Columbia University Professor Robert Y. Shapiro told Newsweek via email Wednesday: “At this point Trump’s approval ratings are being buoyed largely by his base, for whom he can do no wrong and whom he has satisfied in his handling of the southern border issue and keeping his promise to expand deportations. His success in dealing with Iran’s nuclear capability has become a distant memory.”
Shapiro continued: “There has been more bad news than good news on other fronts: the public sees prices as still too high and increasing, tariffs may make this worse and may affect jobs, along with the effect of AI on jobs, and the loss of jobs due to federal layoffs. And he has had nothing but bad news with his mishandling of the Epstein scandal, and the public has opposed major parts of his ‘big beautiful bill’ that cut benefits or the administration of benefits (Social Security and health care) that affect or will affect people’s lives directly.”
“He has not surprisingly not scored points in his efforts to distract the public by having his Justice Department go after his enemies and by sending federal troops to cities to keep order — where in reality there is no critical level of disorder. And while seeming to make a valiant effort to reach peace in Ukraine and in Gaza, he has fallen completely short of what he boasted he could do and is even being perceived as being ‘played’ by Putin and Netanyahu,” Shapiro noted.
“This low popularity rating raises red warning flags for the 2026 midterm elections, and more directly, the surprising Democratic victories yesterday in legislative elections in districts that Trump won handily, suggests that Trump’s disappointing performance can hurt Republicans more broadly,” concluded Shapiro.
