Trump Approval Hits 33% as Economy Weighs on Second Term

President Donald Trump’s job approval has collapsed to 33%, marking his lowest rating since returning to the White House in January 2025. An Economist/YouGov poll conducted August 7-10 found approval down 3 percentage points from the previous week, with 60% of Americans disapproving. The decline cuts across all demographic groups, driven primarily by economic anxiety as the midterm elections approach.

Approval plummets across all groups

Trump’s net approval is now deeply negative among women (minus 36), white Americans (minus 19), and college graduates (minus 42), according to YouGov data. Among Republicans, the damage is most severe outside the MAGA base. Non-MAGA Republicans who began 2025 with 90% approval now split nearly evenly, with 51% approving and 47% disapproving. Among Independents, approval has cratered to 18%, down from 32% at the start of the year, with 71% now disapproving.

Economy drives the collapse

Economic conditions are the primary driver of Trump’s fall. Only 22% of Americans rate the economy as excellent or good, while 56% say it is getting worse. Trump’s approval on the economy stands at minus 33 points, a 42-point swing from his plus 9 approval on the economy during the 2018 midterms. The Trump administration reported the economy lost 23,000 jobs in July, with April and May revised down by 103,000 jobs combined.

Voters cite distrust and age concerns

Sixty percent of Americans perceive Trump as not honest and trustworthy. Fifty-three percent say the 80-year-old president is too old for the job. Sixty-nine percent feel the country is out of control. A New York Times average of recent polls as of August 12 shows Trump at 37% approval and 60% disapproval, confirming the Economist/YouGov findings. RealClearPolitics, Silver Bulletin, and other aggregators all show Trump in the upper 30s to low 40s.

Democrats gain edge ahead of midterms

Trump’s collapse is reshaping the congressional landscape. Democrats hold an 8-point lead over Republicans in the latest generic congressional ballot, with 43% of Independents saying they would vote Democratic compared to 24% for Republicans. Among those who strongly approve of Trump, 95% would vote Republican. But among those who strongly disapprove, 82% would vote Democratic, suggesting Trump’s weakness could cost Republicans seats in November.

Final Thoughts

Trump’s 33% approval represents a historic collapse from his 52% rating at inauguration. Economic weakness and voter doubts about his honesty and age are reshaping the political landscape ahead of the midterms, with Democrats now favored in generic ballot matchups.

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