Trump’s Approval Rating Hits 29% as Economic Concerns Sink 2026 Midterms

President Trump’s job approval has fallen to historic lows, with one poll showing 28% approval and multiple surveys in the low-to-mid 30s as of September 23. The collapse comes amid voter anger over the economy, where only 27% approve of his handling compared to 49% in 2018. With early voting underway in 16 states, Democrats hold a 12-point lead over Republicans in congressional preference, the worst midterm backdrop for an incumbent president since the George W. Bush era.

How far Trump’s approval has fallen

Trump’s overall job approval now sits at 33% in a CNN-SSRS poll, down from 34% in July and marking a numeric low in either term of his presidency. A separate American Research Group poll shows approval at just 28%, while the NPR-Marist survey puts it at 39%. Across all major tracking averages, Trump’s net approval rating has hit minus-21 percent, a second-term low compared to minus-8.5 percent a year ago. Only 13% strongly approve of his performance, while 48.6% strongly disapprove.

Economic discontent is driving the decline

Just 27% of Americans approve of Trump on the economy, down 22 points from 2018 when the public viewed the economy as thriving. Only 28% call economic conditions good, a 41-point drop from eight years ago. Two-thirds of registered voters now call the economy extremely important to their vote, higher than before either of the past two midterms. Democrats hold a 42% to 34% advantage over Republicans on which party would better handle the economy.

Voters are using midterms as anti-Trump referendum

In a midterm high for an incumbent president, 44% of registered voters say their congressional vote is a message of opposition to Trump, while just 19% say it is a message of support. A plurality of 45% say their choice for Congress is a vote against Trump, including four in five Democrats and about half of independents. Trump’s supporters are largely tepid, while his opponents are furious, creating a lopsided midterm electorate.

Democrats gain ground on key issues

Beyond the economy, Democrats lead Republicans on foreign policy (42% to 36%) and gas prices (40% to 27%). Independents widen the Democratic advantage further, favoring Democrats on gas prices by 26 points and on foreign policy by 22 points. Overall, registered voters prefer Democratic congressional candidates over Republicans by 12 points, slightly less than the 12-point advantage Democrats held before the 2018 midterms but occurring when Trump is far more unpopular than he was then.

Final Thoughts

With Trump’s approval near 30% and economic anger at historic levels, Republicans face their worst midterm environment in a generation. The data shows voters are using their congressional votes as a referendum on the president rather than a choice between parties.

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