Donald Trump’s Approval Rating Continues to Reach New Lows – U.S. President Donald Trump’s approval rating remains at uncomfortable lows just five weeks before the midterm elections.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll released last week found that the President’s approval rating stood at just 32% — the lowest of his political career under any Reuters/Ipsos survey.
President Donald Trump holds a Cabinet meeting, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in the Cabinet Room. (Official White House Photo by Molly Roberts)
President Donald Trump attends an event celebrating Women’s History Month, Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in the East Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)
The findings are particularly troublesome for GOP candidates vying for a seat in the Senate or the House of Representatives this November.
A New Low for Donald Trump
In the poll of 1,277 U.S. adults, just 32% approved of Trump’s presidency.
Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has suffered a persistent negative approval rating. For his first year back in office, Trump’s approval rating hovered around 40%. However, since the Iran war began in February, that figure has dipped well into the 30s.
The four-day poll saw the President’s disapproval stand at 66%, marking a net approval of -34%.
Trump’s Troubling Times
Trump’s handling of the cost of living, which many Americans say will be the determining factor in how they vote in November, has an approval of just 17%. Particularly concerning for the President is that a majority of Republicans disapprove of his handling of the cost of living, with 51% disapproving of his work on the topic compared to 44% who praised him.
This dissatisfaction among GOP voters is growing. After his second inauguration, Trump’s approval rating among Republicans stood at 91%, then dropped to 86% at the start of 2026. Fast forward to September, and the President has only the backing of 73% of Republicans, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.
“For really his entire political career, the president has enjoyed very strong support among the Republican Party and among his base, and that’s still true today, but it’s a bit less true,” Alec Tyson, Senior Vice President and lead pollster at Ipsos Public Affairs, told The Hill.
Rather embarrassingly, Trump’s approval rating has fallen below that of his predecessor, Joe Biden. In the last month of his presidency before 2024’s presidential election, the Democrat had just 35% of the country backing his performance.
Polls Apart
It’s not a one-off for President Trump, either. An Emerson College poll released last week found just 39% of likely voters approved of his performance compared to 58% who did not. Separately, a CNN/SSRS poll found that just one-third of all U.S. adults surveyed believed he is doing a good job, with support for the conflict with Iran dropping to 60% (down from 73% when the war began).
His approval rating in a PBS/NPR/Marist poll stood at 39%, marking a net approval of -20%.
In the Reuters/Ipsos poll, Trump performed worst on the cost of living, with a net approval rating of -57%.
This compared with the economy (-44%), foreign policy (-32%), and immigration (-19%). On the latter, Trump enjoys backing from 79% of his party, but only 36% of Americans support his handling of immigration, with 55% disapproving.
The President’s best-performing metric in the poll was his stance on fighting crime, with 35% approval and 50% disapproval.
Republicans Break Ranks
With Congress up for grabs this November, the poll bears bad news for Republican candidates. In a congressional generic ballot, 43% of respondents said they would vote for the Democrats, with just 35% leaning towards the GOP.
Amid voter concerns over the cost of living, several Republican candidates in battleground states have dissented from the Trump administration on key issues. Michigan Senate hopeful Mike Rogers called for the war in Iran to “end quickly” to bring down grocery prices in a video posted on social media last week.
Moreover, Rep. Ashley Hinson, who is standing for Iowa’s Senate seat, called for a suspension of gas taxes and diesel exports – a view shared by Rogers.
Those already in Congress have questioned the conflict’s legitimacy, as no declaration of war has been issued in line with the Constitution despite the war’s seven-month duration.
Earlier this month, seven Republican Reps. sided with the Democrats to demand an immediate end to military action.
Amid ongoing scrutiny over the Iran war and associated rise in living costs, President Trump has continued to cite Iran’s desire for a nuclear weapon as justification for the conflict in a bid to win over voters who may be critical of his foreign policy.
Trump, mindful of the prospect of a final two years in office with Democrats controlling at least one of Congress’ two chambers, has promised $5,000 to all American adults if his party wins the midterms, although it remains unclear how this would be funded or delivered.
About the Author: Shay Bottomley
Shay Bottomley is a British journalist. He has written for the Western Standard, Business Insider, Maidenhead Advertiser, Slough Express, Windsor Express, Berkshire Live and Southend Echo.
