Trump's Approval Rating Hits 29%, Lowest of Either Term

President Donald Trump's job approval has reached record lows across multiple polling aggregators and individual surveys, with one poll showing approval at just 29 percent—the lowest point in either of his terms. Aggregated polling shows approval ratings ranging from 33 to 39 percent, with disapproval consistently above 58 percent, producing net approval ratings between minus-20 and minus-22 percent. The decline has accelerated throughout his second term and represents a dramatic shift from his first presidency, when approval typically remained in the low-to-mid 40s.

The deterioration coincides with significant voter concerns about economic conditions and inflation. Only 27 percent of Americans approve of Trump's handling of the economy, down 22 points from 2018, while approval of his inflation management stands at just 20 percent. Approximately two-thirds of voters say Trump has worsened economic conditions, and majorities report that tariffs and the war in Iran have negatively affected their finances. Economic issues have become paramount: two-thirds of registered voters call the economy "extremely important" to their vote, and voters now trust Democrats over Republicans on inflation by a 15-point margin.

Trump's decline extends beyond his overall approval to critical intensity measures. Only 19.7 percent of Americans strongly approve of his performance—another career low—while 48.6 percent strongly disapprove. Support among key voting groups has eroded significantly: his approval among independents sits at 23–25 percent, among voters under 30 at 26 percent, and among Hispanics at 31 percent. Even among 2024 Trump voters, 22 percent now disapprove of his job performance, and among Republicans broadly, 50 percent disapprove of his inflation handling.

These numbers pose significant challenges for Republicans heading into the midterm elections. The generic congressional ballot shows Democrats leading by 8–8.6 percentage points nationally, comparable to Democratic advantages in 2006 and 2018 that produced net House gains of 31 and 41 seats respectively. Polling shows Democrats ahead in all nine Senate battleground races. Voter motivation has shifted sharply: 44 percent of registered voters say they view their congressional vote as opposition to Trump, compared to just 19 percent who frame their vote as support for the president. Meanwhile, some Republican elected officials have begun publicly acknowledging their party's inaction on inflation, signaling potential fractures within the party as the midterm contest approaches.