President Donald Trump’s approval rating has hit its lowest level ever recorded in either of his White House terms, according to a new poll.
A new survey from American Research Group, conducted in mid-May 2026, found 31 percent of Americans approve of the way Trump is handling his job, while 64 percent disapprove—his weakest showing across both terms in office.
Key Points
- A large majority of Americans believe the economy is worsening and expect further decline, according to the poll
- Net approval has deteriorated sharply from -6 in March 2025 to -34 in May 2026
- Economic ratings are weaker still, with just 29 percent approving and 67 percent disapproving
- Independent voters remain strongly negative, with just 25 percent approval
A president’s approval—especially on the economy—has historically been a leading indicator of electoral vulnerability ahead of midterm elections.
Weakening approval among independents and widespread economic pessimism could reshape the political battleground heading into the 2026 midterms.
Why It Matters
Trump entered his second term with relatively stable approval, but sustained economic dissatisfaction has steadily eroded support across much of the electorate.
What stands out now is not simply the level of disapproval, but its breadth—cutting across independents and increasingly pessimistic even among some of his own supporters.
What To Know
The latest American Research Group survey is based on 1,100 completed interviews conducted among a nationwide random sample of adults between May 16 and May 20, 2026. The poll carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.
Overall, 31 percent of Americans say they approve of Trump’s performance as president, while 64 percent disapprove and 5 percent are undecided. Among registered voters, the picture is nearly identical: 31 percent approve and 65 percent disapprove.
A Sustained Decline In Support
That topline figure marks a continuation of a consistent downward trend. In May 2025, 41 percent approved of Trump’s performance with 55 percent disapproving.
By October 2025, the gap had widened significantly, and by May 2026 his net approval rating—approval minus disapproval—had fallen to -34, compared with -6 in March 2025.
Discontent is even more pronounced on the economy, traditionally a core political strength for Trump. Just 29 percent of Americans approve of his handling of the economy, while 67 percent disapprove.
Among registered voters, economic approval ticks up marginally to 30 percent, with 66 percent disapproving. In May 2025, economic approval stood at 37 percent, highlighting a clear erosion over the past year.
Partisan divides remain stark but stable. Among Republicans, 69 percent approve of Trump’s job performance and 27 percent disapprove. Among Democrats, approval is effectively nonexistent at 1 percent, with 98 percent disapproving. Independents—often decisive in national elections—lean heavily negative, with just 25 percent approving and 69 percent disapproving.
Economic Pessimism And Political Risk
Beyond headline approval, the survey points to a deeper structural challenge: economic sentiment has deteriorated sharply. A total of 70 percent of Americans say the national economy is getting worse, compared with just 8 percent who say it is improving. Looking ahead, 69 percent expect the economy to be worse a year from now.
Perceptions of recession are widespread. Sixty percent of Americans say they believe the economy is currently in a recession, while only 22 percent say it is not.
Those views are reflected in household sentiment. Just 30 percent of Americans rate their own financial situation as excellent, very good, or good, while 61 percent describe it as bad, very bad, or terrible. When asked about the trajectory of their household finances, 66 percent say their situation is getting worse.
Even among Trump’s remaining supporters, optimism has weakened considerably. Of the 31 percent who approve of his performance, just 14 percent expect the national economy to improve over the next year, while a majority—53 percent—expect conditions to worsen. Earlier in his term, supporters were far more optimistic: in February 2025, 46 percent of approving voters believed the economy would improve.
Among those who disapprove of Trump, pessimism is near-universal. Seventy-eight percent expect the national economy to worsen over the next year, and 73 percent say their household financial situation will deteriorate.
That alignment—falling presidential approval alongside broad-based economic pessimism—has historically been associated with difficult midterm environments for the incumbent party.
What the White House Says
The White House has consistently downplayed the significance of recent polling, instead pointing back to Trump’s 2024 election victory as the clearest measure of public backing.
Spokesman Davis Ingle has repeatedly highlighted the scale of that win, noting that “nearly 80 million Americans overwhelmingly elected President Trump,” and framing it as a central mandate for the administration’s agenda.
Ingle has also argued that the White House remains focused on what it describes as core economic priorities—including jobs, inflation and housing affordability—while maintaining that the president’s policies are still taking effect.
“The ultimate poll was November 5th 2024,” Ingle said, adding that Trump was elected “to deliver on his popular and commonsense agenda.”
He also pointed to what the administration views as early progress, saying the president “is working tirelessly to create jobs, cool inflation, increase housing affordability, and more,” and arguing that “this is just the beginning as his agenda continues taking effect.”
