Market
Jun 18, 2026 Major2
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Trump's Economic Approval Rating Hits New Low, Poll Shows
A new PBS News/NPR/Marist poll shows President Donald Trump's economic approval rating has fallen to a record low of 33%, with 60% of Americans disapproving. The decline is driven by persistent high gas prices and food costs, eroding support among key voting groups including white voters without college degrees, rural Americans, and Latinos. Overall job approval has also dropped to 36%, the lowest of his second term, as Democrats gain momentum ahead of the midterm elections.
Quick Facts
Who
Donald Trump
What
Economic approval rating hits new low
When
June 8-11, 2026 (polling period)
Where
United States
- Economic approval rating hits new low
- Overall job approval continues to drop
- High gas prices strain household budgets
- Democrats show more enthusiasm to vote in midterms
- Key demographic groups express disapproval
A new PBS News/NPR/Marist poll reveals that only 33% of Americans approve of President Donald Trump's handling of the economy, his lowest-ever rating on the issue. The survey, conducted from June 8 to 11, 2026, shows 60% of Americans disapprove of his economic approach, marking a significant decline from the 50% approval he held in December 2020, just before leaving office. This rating is also three points lower than the worst marks received by former President Joe Biden during his single term.
Overall job approval for Trump has dropped to 36%, a continuing downward trend since March 2025 and the lowest of his second term. The approval gap between those who approve and disapprove of his performance stands at 23 points, the widest margin he has faced during either term. Among independent voters, 64% disapprove or strongly disapprove of his performance, while 18% of Republicans also express disapproval.
The poll highlights that key demographic groups that supported Trump in 2024 are showing discontent. Among white voters without a college degree, 54% now disapprove of his economic handling, down from nearly half approval in April 2025. In February 2025, Trump had a net positive approval rating of 22 points among rural Americans, but he is now 10 points underwater. By a roughly 2-to-1 margin, Latinos disapprove of his performance, and approval among Gen Z, Gen X, and households earning under $50,000 continues to decline.
High gas prices remain a major factor, with 78% of Americans saying they strain their household budgets. Although average gas prices have fallen about 40 to 50 cents per gallon from a month ago, they remain about 79 cents higher than last year, and many parts of the country still see prices above $4 per gallon. As a result, 45% of Americans say they do not plan to take a summer vacation this year, with half of them citing cost as the main reason.
Economic anxieties have fueled political consequences, with Democrats showing more enthusiasm to vote in the upcoming midterm elections, seeing a path to regain control of both the House and Senate. Some Trump voters express frustration; Regina Kulenga, a 36-year-old Trump voter in Georgia, told NPR she is unsure if she will vote in the midterms, calling Trump's actions a "slap in the face" and stating that the economy is "a lot worse than what they were." However, many Republicans remain loyal, with 77% of 2024 Trump voters still approving of his economic approach.
Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, noted that Americans are connecting affordability challenges with Trump's presidency. "It's Donald Trump, and that's where the slippage comes in. He can't get away with high prices at the pump and at the supermarket and not get tarnished by that," he said. The survey of 1,340 respondents has a margin of error of +/- 3.0 percentage points.
Why This Matters
This poll marks a critical shift in public sentiment that could reshape the 2026 midterm elections. Persistent inflation, particularly at the pump and grocery store, is directly eroding Trump's core support among white working-class and rural voters, groups that were instrumental in his previous wins. For investors and policy watchers, the data signals potential policy pivots, market volatility linked to consumer spending, and a possible Democratic wave that would impact legislation on taxes, energy, and trade. Voters, meanwhile, should watch how candidates from both parties address affordability in campaign platforms.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 8, 2026
WirePolling period begins for PBS News/NPR/Marist survey
Jun 11, 2026
WirePolling period ends
Jun 18, 2026
WirePoll results published; Trump's economic approval hits new low of 33%