President Donald Trump hit out at pollsters after a flurry of recent surveys showed his approval rating hit record lows amid growing voter frustration with the economy and cost of living.
Several recent polls, including those from CNN and Quinnipiac University, showed Trump’s approval rating reaching historic lows in the past few weeks. His polling is a major red flag for the Republican Party ahead of this year’s midterm elections, as the GOP finds itself on the defensive in key districts and states in the House of Representatives and Senate. Democrats believe the president’s poor approval could help carry them to victory in competitive races in November.
Trump, however, contested those polls in a Truth Social post Monday morning.
News
“My REAL Polling Numbers, not those made up by the Fake News Media, are the best they have ever been, and why wouldn’t they be with the biggest tax cuts and employment numbers EVER, the biggest outside Investment in America in World history, a totally secure Border, a giant Victory in Venezuela, the Denuclearization of Iran, unparalleled respect and success throughout the World, and much more?” he wrote.
He continued to describe the “fake” poll numbers as “crooked and corrupt.”
Several Republican-affiliated pollsters have similarly shown Trump’s approval rating underwater with voters, though some do paint a better picture for the president.
A White House spokesperson pointed Newsweek to Trump’s post when reached for comment on Monday.
Donald Trump’s Approval Rating Among Republican Pollsters
The latest poll from McLaughlin & Associates, affiliated with Trump, showed that 36 percent of Americans approve of both Trump and his policies, while 13 percent said they approved of only his policies. In that poll, 47 percent of respondents said they did not approve of Trump.
That marks a shift from last August, when 38 percent of respondents said they approved of Trump and his policies and 14 percent approved of just his policies; 45 percent said they disapproved of Trump at the time.
McLaughlin & Associates’ latest poll surveyed 1,000 general election voters from July 15-21.
Rasmussen Reports, another pollster viewed as being more Republican, showed Trump underwater. In its daily tracking poll for Monday, 44 percent of likely U.S. voters said they approved of Trump’s job performance, compared to 55 percent who disapproved.
Twenty-five percent said they strongly approved of Trump’s job performance, while 46 percent strongly disapproved, according to the poll. It was conducted among 1,500 likely voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
A recent Cygnal poll did not track Trump’s approval in terms of job performance but instead his personal favorability. It found that 56.1 percent of Americans viewed Trump favorably, compared to 41.9 percent who viewed him unfavorably. It surveyed 1,500 respondents from June 30-July 1 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.53 percentage points.
A poll from J.L. Partners and The Daily Mail showed that 56 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump, compared to 44 percent who approved of him. It surveyed 1,000 registered voters from July 17-20.
How Does That Compare to Independent Polls?
Several major pollsters released surveys last month showing that Trump’s approval rating has fallen to a record low, raising red flags about his standing among independent voters and even parts of his base.
A Quinnipiac University poll showed Trump’s approval at 32 percent—its lowest point from either of his terms. It surveyed 963 registered voters from July 23-27.
A CNN poll also found a record low in Trump approval at 34 percent. It surveyed 1,225 respondents, also from July 23-27. An AP-NORC poll, which surveyed 1,165 adults on the same days, showed his approval at 33 percent, tied with April for the lowest ever.
What Is Behind Falling Trump Poll Numbers?
The economy is viewed as a major issue for Trump; Americans often vote based on who they believe will improve their material economic conditions, and polls regularly show economic issues as the top concern for voters.
Trump campaigned on tackling affordability and inflation, issues emerging in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic—and his focus on economic issues helped propel his return to the White House. But as the midterms approach, inflation has remained elevated, and voters have shown they are increasingly frustrated over Trump’s approach to the economy.
In the Quinnipiac poll, just 34 percent said they approved of Trump on the economy, down from 42 percent in January.
The Iran war is also unpopular with voters, with only 34 percent of respondents in the Quinnipiac poll saying they support the “U.S. military action against Iran,” down from 40 percent in March.
Gas prices have also increased amid the war because of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a major passageway for the global oil supply, that has faced closures amid the conflict that began at the end of February. Costs topping $4 per gallon have caused pain at the pump for consumers and a major polling headache for Trump.
Could Trump’s Approval Rebound Before He Leaves Office?
Presidents often see their approval rating reach its lowest point in their sixth year, David Stebenne, professor of history and law at Ohio State University, recently told Newsweek. That rings true for Trump, even though he has a “discontinuous” two-term tenure, he said.
If 2026 is the worst year of the economy during Trump’s presidency, his approval could tick up in 2027 or 2028, he said.
“If it gets better, and I’m not saying it will, but in the last two years, that is an approval rating that would likely rise,” Stebenne said.
Matthew Dallek, professor of political management at The George Washington University, previously told Newsweek it is “certainly possible” that Trump’s approval could rebound but that “a lot of things would have to fall into place.”
“The Iran war would have to wind down. Prices would have to get more under control and the economy would need to continue to expand,” he said. “The job market, especially, would need to continue to grow. And you in theory have fewer ICE killings of U.S. citizens and immigrants.”
It’s possible Trump’s approval could reenter the low 40s, but Americans are simply “getting tired of him”—Dallek said—so it would still be “tough” to make a significant rebound.
Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Jason Lemon and Anthony Murray.
