Trump Approval Collapses to Pandemic-Era Levels, Shaking Even Texas – Seoul Economic Daily
As Trump's Approval Falls to 39%, Democrats Lead Republicans by 5 Points Deep Pessimism Widens Number of Competitive Races
U.S. President Donald Trump's approval rating is plummeting, and the Republican Party is faltering along with it. About five months before the November midterm elections, Trump's approval rating has fallen to pandemic-era levels, while the opposition Democratic Party leads the Republicans by 5 percentage points in party support.
According to an NBC News survey of 2,400 registered voters conducted from May 29 to June 7, 49% of respondents said they wanted Democrats to control Congress, the network reported Sunday. Only 44% wanted Republicans to retain their majority status. The 5-point gap exceeds the margin of error of 2 percentage points.
Trump's approval rating stood at 39% among all adults and 42% among registered voters. That is similar to levels seen during the height of the pandemic in July 2020. Two-thirds of independents viewed the president's job performance negatively. Among young voters (ages 18-29) and Latino voters who supported Trump in the 2024 presidential election, negative responses reached 77% and 64%, respectively.
Deep pessimism spreading across American society is also working against the Republicans. In the same survey, 80% of voters said achieving the "American Dream" has become more difficult than a generation ago. Respondents who said they trust the federal government and Congress "little or not at all" reached 50% and 58%, respectively.
In key battleground areas, the Democrats' advance stood out. To gain a Senate majority, Democrats need to secure four additional seats. In North Carolina, considered the most likely battleground, former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper holds an edge over the Republican candidate. The Cook Political Report (CPR), a leading election analysis outlet, shifted the state to lean Democratic.
Beyond North Carolina, Republicans are expected to face a difficult defensive battle. Senator Susan Collins's Maine and Senator Jon Husted's Ohio are razor-thin contests. Democrats are also seen building footholds to catch up in traditionally Republican-strong areas such as Alaska, Iowa, and Texas.
In the House, the Republican majority is also wavering. Republicans hold 218 seats, slightly more than half of the total 435 seats. Of the 18 districts that CPR classified as competitive, 14 were held by incumbent Republican members. Although Republicans drew favorable district lines in redistricting, the defensive line they must hold has instead widened.
Original reporting by Park Si-jin for Seoul Economic Daily.
AI-translated from Korean. Quotes from foreign sources are based on Korean-language reports and may not reflect exact original wording.
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