Donald Trump’s slipping approval rating alarms GOP as 2026 midterms signal mounting Democratic momentum
Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen
President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to its lowest point of his current term, sparking deep concern within Republican circles as the 2026 midterms approach. New polling from Gallup shows Trump at just 36% approval and 60% disapproval, with similar numbers echoed across major pollsters including Economist/YouGov and RealClearPolitics. The decline, driven by growing dissatisfaction among Republicans and independents, now places Trump behind nearly every modern president at the same point in office.
With the 2026 midterms drawing in, political analysts are keeping a close eye on President Donald Trump's approval rating as concern grows internally within Republican circles. Several national polls reflect Trump slipping in public support, while a series of electoral signs indicate that the GOP may be in trouble next year. A combination of recent Democratic over-performance and Trump's declining approval has created a narrative that the MAGA coalition may be more vulnerable than Republicans expected.
Trump's current approval rating is net negative, and the decline has been steady across major pollsters. According to Gallup's most recent survey, which was conducted from Nov. 3–25, just 36% of Americans approve of Trump's job performance — his lowest point of this term. Disapproval sits at 60%, marking a sharp drop from earlier in the year. Other pollsters reflect a similar trend: the Economist/YouGov poll places Trump at 38% approval and 57% disapproval, marking the seventh consecutive week that his net approval has stood below –15 points. Aggregated polling from RealClearPolitics and the New York Times shows approval hovering in the low-40s, with disapproval consistently higher. These numbers put Trump behind nearly every modern president at the same point in their first year — including Biden, Obama, Clinton, Reagan, and both Bushes.
This downturn arrives at a politically sensitive moment. Democrats swept November's state and local elections, energizing the party ahead of 2026. Then came the Tennessee special election on Dec. 2 - a seat that should have been a comfortable Republican hold. Instead, Democrats dramatically narrowed the margin, forcing Trump himself to intervene to boost turnout for the GOP. While Republicans ultimately won, the unexpectedly close race sent shockwaves through party strategists, suggesting Trump's sinking approval may be dragging down Republican candidates even in conservative strongholds.
Historically, presidents with approval ratings this low during their first year struggle in midterm cycles, and Trump's numbers are now lower than any modern president's at this point in their tenure. Gallup's historical comparison shows that past leaders-even those facing turbulence-kept significantly higher support: Obama had 51% approval in his first November, Clinton 49%, Biden 42%, and Reagan 52%. In contrast, Trump's 36% reflects a deepening partisan divide, with Gallup showing sharp declines among Republicans and independents alike. Among Republicans, approval dropped seven points in the latest Gallup reading, while independents fell by eight points-a troubling sign for a president whose coalition relies heavily on strong GOP enthusiasm and swing-voter neutrality. While Trump remains strongest on issues like crime, his weakest areas particularly healthcare and economic pressures appear to be shaping voter sentiment heading into 2026. With disapproval climbing past 55% in multiple polls, Republicans fear that the president’s unpopularity could overshadow local races and energize Democratic turnout. The Tennessee scare only amplified those anxieties, becoming the latest sign that a potential “2026 blue wave” is far from impossible.
Trump's current approval rating is net negative, and the decline has been steady across major pollsters. According to Gallup's most recent survey, which was conducted from Nov. 3–25, just 36% of Americans approve of Trump's job performance — his lowest point of this term. Disapproval sits at 60%, marking a sharp drop from earlier in the year. Other pollsters reflect a similar trend: the Economist/YouGov poll places Trump at 38% approval and 57% disapproval, marking the seventh consecutive week that his net approval has stood below –15 points. Aggregated polling from RealClearPolitics and the New York Times shows approval hovering in the low-40s, with disapproval consistently higher. These numbers put Trump behind nearly every modern president at the same point in their first year — including Biden, Obama, Clinton, Reagan, and both Bushes.
This downturn arrives at a politically sensitive moment. Democrats swept November's state and local elections, energizing the party ahead of 2026. Then came the Tennessee special election on Dec. 2 - a seat that should have been a comfortable Republican hold. Instead, Democrats dramatically narrowed the margin, forcing Trump himself to intervene to boost turnout for the GOP. While Republicans ultimately won, the unexpectedly close race sent shockwaves through party strategists, suggesting Trump's sinking approval may be dragging down Republican candidates even in conservative strongholds.
Historically, presidents with approval ratings this low during their first year struggle in midterm cycles, and Trump's numbers are now lower than any modern president's at this point in their tenure. Gallup's historical comparison shows that past leaders-even those facing turbulence-kept significantly higher support: Obama had 51% approval in his first November, Clinton 49%, Biden 42%, and Reagan 52%. In contrast, Trump's 36% reflects a deepening partisan divide, with Gallup showing sharp declines among Republicans and independents alike. Among Republicans, approval dropped seven points in the latest Gallup reading, while independents fell by eight points-a troubling sign for a president whose coalition relies heavily on strong GOP enthusiasm and swing-voter neutrality. While Trump remains strongest on issues like crime, his weakest areas particularly healthcare and economic pressures appear to be shaping voter sentiment heading into 2026. With disapproval climbing past 55% in multiple polls, Republicans fear that the president’s unpopularity could overshadow local races and energize Democratic turnout. The Tennessee scare only amplified those anxieties, becoming the latest sign that a potential “2026 blue wave” is far from impossible.