Donald Trump’s approval ratings have been bad for nearly his entire second presidency, but now, they’re nearing an all-time low as the midterm elections approach.
The Pew Research Center released new numbers this week that are almost entirely bad news for the president.
Former President of the United States Donald Trump speaking with attendees at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s 2023 Annual Leadership Summit at the Venetian Convention & Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. By Gage Skidmore.
According to Pew, only three in ten Americans now approve of Trump’s job performance.
That 30 percent approval, compared with 68 percent disapproval, is slightly below the current RealClearPolitics polling average, which puts the president’s approval at 37.8 percent and disapproval at 60 percent. The Pew poll is part of the RCP average.
The 30 percent approval is only slightly higher than the lowest level of Trump’s first term, which fell to 29 percent during Trump’s final days in 2021, after the January 6 riot.
Perhaps more worrying for the president, his support has declined among those who voted for him in 2024.
Losing the Coalition
Only 67 percent of those who voted for the president in 2024 now approve of his job performance, down sharply from 95 percent in early 2025, 83 percent earlier this year, and 75 percent in July.
Trump has also lost significant support among demographics with which he made inroads in 2024, including younger voters and Hispanic voters.
Per Pew, only 57 percent of Hispanic voters who voted for Trump in 2024 continue to approve of his job performance, while 69 percent of white voters who backed Trump two years ago still approve of him.
Also, only 1 percent of those who voted for Kamala Harris in 2024 approve of Trump’s performance as president, a figure that has remained largely unchanged over the last two years.
On the Issues
Pew noted that Trump’s approval ratings on specific issues have also worsened over his term.
Only 35 percent of respondents said they are confident the president is making good decisions on economic policy, a number that has worsened during Trump’s second term.
Just two-thirds of Republicans, and only about 10 percent of Democrats, have expressed confidence in Trump on that issue.
Bringing America together has never been Trump’s forte, and only 21 percent of Americans trust the president to “bring the country closer together,” down from 33 percent at the start of his second term.
Most Americans also don’t trust Trump to keep his “business interests separate from the decisions he makes as president.” About 30 percent of Americans say they are confident in Trump to do that, while 69 percent say they are not.
Who’s More Engaged?
Pew also released broader polling data on the midterm elections.
That data found that Democrats lead by 8 points in the generic ballot for the House of Representatives in November’s midterm elections, and that Democrats this fall are also “buoyed by their supporters’ relatively high levels of engagement and stated motivation to vote” more than is the case with Republicans.
Of voters who back Democratic candidates, the data said, 78 percent said it “really matters” which party ends up in control of Congress, compared with 69 percent of those who intend to vote for a Republican candidate.
President Donald J. Trump tours the White House with Fox News host and daughter-in-law Lara Trump, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)
More notably, Democrats are voting for that party even if they’re not especially happy with it right now.
Pew found that 49 percent of Trump voters who view the GOP unfavorably plan to vote Republican this year, while 73 percent of Harris voters who view their own party unfavorably plan to vote Democratic this November.
The survey found the top midterm issue is the economy, with 84 percent of voters calling it “Very important” to their vote. Other major issues, per Pew, include “the future of democracy” (73 percent), health care (68 percent), education (62 percent), immigration (59 percent), and foreign policy (57 percent).
It’s All About Trump
The Pew survey also found that Trump looms large over this midterm, despite not being on the ballot.
According to Pew, Trump is a much bigger factor in how voters view his election than President Joe Biden was in the midterms four years ago.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks regarding unifying the nation after the attempted assassination of former President Trump, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in the Oval Office. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)
In fact, Democrats outperformed expectations in those midterms, gaining a Senate seat and leaving Republicans with a smaller House majority than expected.
About the Author: Stephen Silver
Stephen Silver is an award-winning journalist, essayist, and film critic, and contributor to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Broad Street Review, and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. For over a decade, Stephen has writtend thousands of articles on politics, national security, technology, and the economy. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @StephenSilver, and subscribe to his Substack newsletter.
