President Donald Trump’s record disapproval rating has remained consistent since July, polling has shown.
According to polling by The Economist/YouGov, the proportion of people who disapprove of the president’s job performance has plateaued at 55 percent since mid-July.
Why It Matters
Trump’s popularity has fluctuated in the first months of his term in the Oval Office. But some recent policies, like his administration’s handling of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s case, have caused some voters to turn against the president. Securing votes from all states in the nation will be important when voters head to the midterms in November 2026, particularly in swing states where every vote matters.
What To Know
There have been four weekly polls since July 11. In all of these polls, 55 percent of respondents said they disapproved of Trump’s job performance. The proportion of people who said they approved of Trump’s performance has fluctuated marginally between 40 percent and 41 percent.
This means his net approval rating in the last four weeks has vacillated between -14 points and -15 points. This is close to Trump’s lowest-ever net approval rating recorded by the pollster for both his first and second terms, which was -21 points in November 2017.

AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Meanwhile, other polls have painted a similarly bleak picture of Trump’s fortunes. Trump’s approval rating is positive in 18 of the states he won in the 2024 election, and negative in 13.
However, other polls are more positive. One suggested that the proportion of college-educated voters who approve of the president’s job performance has increased since June. Another showed Trump gaining more traction with Hispanic voters, a crucial demographic that traditionally supports Democratic candidates.
What People Are Saying
Mark Shanahan, who teaches American politics at the University of Surrey, told Newsweek: “One pollster can’t paint the full picture, but after a whirlwind start to his second term replete with a flood of Executive Orders, it will be hard for Trump 2.0 to maintain the white-knuckle pace of his first six months back in office. And that’s a conundrum for the president.
“The Trump presidency is all about big gestures that gain media attention. It’s far less about the detail of managing inflation, truly creating jobs or really negotiating peace around the world. Blowing up Iranian nuclear facilities or very visible ICE sweeps can boost polling briefly, but in the end, what matters to most Americans is confidence in their country, and primarily, in its economy.
“The outlook for the cost of living is not currently particularly positive. Despite the One Big Beautiful Act, most people aren’t feeling better off, and the prospect of fleshing out their wallets seems as remote as ever. Wars still rage in Ukraine and Gaza, and the stink of Epstein still taints Trump’s attempts to deflect from it.
“Many who leant their vote to Trump last year have at least a little buyer’s regret. This hasn’t yet crossed over into core MAGA voters, but the danger for Trump is that it might, especially if his tariff policy actually depresses economic growth.”
What Happens Next
Trump’s approval rating will likely fluctuate depending on national and international events and the impact of his policies. The midterm elections, where his popularity will be tested, take place in November 2026.