Trump’s Approval Rating Falls to 32% Nationally as State Map Shows Deep Losses

President Trump’s approval rating has plummeted to 32 percent nationally, marking his lowest point in his second term, according to the latest polling data. The decline extends to Republican strongholds: Tennessee voters now disapprove of his job performance 51 percent to 48 percent, the first time his approval has fallen underwater in that state since the Beacon Center began polling in 2023. The collapse comes as Americans grapple with rising prices and the ongoing Iran conflict enters its sixth month.

National collapse across all demographics

CNN political analyst Maggie Haberman said Monday that there is no polling where Trump is popular, and his weakness spans every voter group. A CNN poll shows Trump with a net approval rating of negative 32 percentage points, compared with negative 21 points for the Republican Party overall. Reuters/Ipsos polling puts his approval at 33 percent, the lowest of his second term and the third straight month at one-third approval. Haberman noted Trump faces particular damage on affordability, with 71 percent of Americans, including four in ten Republicans, disapproving of his handling of the cost of living.

Tennessee becomes a warning sign for Republicans

The Beacon Center of Tennessee poll conducted August 15-26 among 1,200 registered voters found 48 percent approve of Trump while 51 percent disapprove, a margin of error of plus or minus 2.77 percent. Beacon CEO Justin Owen called it “a substantial development in a deep red state,” contrasting Trump’s current underwater numbers with his 30-point victory margin in Tennessee two years ago. Despite Trump’s collapse, Republican candidates remain strong: Sen. Marsha Blackburn leads Democrat Jerri Green 55 percent to 34 percent in the governor’s race, and Sen. Bill Hagerty holds a 25-point lead over Democrat Marquita Bradshaw, 58 percent to 33 percent.

Democrats show higher voter enthusiasm heading into midterms

Nearly 46 percent of Democrats say they are “very enthusiastic” about voting in November, compared with just 31 percent of Republicans, per Reuters/Ipsos polling. Independents break toward Democrats by 14 points, 36 percent to 22 percent. The enthusiasm gap matters more in midterm years, when turnout is lower than presidential elections. In 2018, 49 percent of eligible voters cast a ballot versus 64 percent in the 2024 presidential election. Trump and GOP leadership have sought to make him central to the party’s midterm strategy despite weak approval, urging voters to treat him as “on the ballot” in November to secure votes from his base.

Affordability and the Iran war drive the decline

Haberman pointed to an Oval Office healthcare event Monday where administration officials repeatedly invoked “affordability,” an issue Trump previously dismissed as a “hoax.” The ongoing Iran conflict, now in its sixth month, compounds voter concerns. Tariffs are back in the news amid a trade war with Canada, and oil prices continue climbing due to the war. Republicans in competitive districts do not want to be dealing with affordability as a campaign issue, Haberman said, yet it remains Trump’s most damaging vulnerability.

Final Thoughts

Trump’s approval collapse threatens GOP midterm prospects even as Republican candidates like Blackburn and Hagerty maintain strong leads. The enthusiasm gap favors Democrats, and affordability concerns show no sign of easing before November.

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