Trump’s approval rating hits new low in latest polls — where it stands now – The News Journal
President Donald Trump’s approval rating remains underwater in the latest round of national polls, with most surveys showing support in the high‑30s to low‑40s and disapproval well above 50% as the 2026 midterm elections get closer.
This week’s newest polls reflect a growing percentage of over 57% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s job performance, compared to approximately 40% that do approve. This net-negative rating of around 16 points reflects a broader trend of declining support compared to earlier in his term and a mounting concern among the GOP heading into the November midterms.
This week’s Economist/YouGov poll, released June 2, showed the most top-of-mind issue for Americans was inflation and prices. This issue was considered most important across all ages, race, sex and educational backgrounds, with the next big issues being “jobs and the economy” and healthcare.
Most Americans polled described that state of the economy as poor and getting worse, with less than 20% calling it good or getting better. It was also noteworthy, that 41% said their families were worse off financially than a year ago, compared to 42% that said, “about the same.”
While economic concerns weigh heavily on public opinion, an overwhelming number of people – 65% in this poll – said the country is headed in the wrong direction, with similar sentiment on Trump’s job approval and how he is handling the Iran war.
Historically, presidents entering midterm cycles with negative approval ratings face significant challenges at the ballot box and although polling can shift quickly, the current data points to a difficult political environment for Trump according to the polls generic congressional vote for the 2026 midterms:
Here’s where Trump’s job approval rating stands right now and which presidents had the lowest/highest approval in history.
Trump’s presidential approval rating today is at 40.4% that approve of his job performance versus 57% that disapprove, according to RealClearPolling. It declined from an initial high of 50.5% approval and 44.3% disapproval rating when he took office in January 2025.
Trump’s current approval ratings are lower than his first term average approval numbers of 42.8% and also former President Joe Biden, whose overall approval rating was 43.2%.
Note: Polls are constantly changing and different pollsters ask opinions of different segments of the population. These numbers reflect polling as Friday, June 5.
Although Trump’s approval has dropped to a historic low of 39.5% in the polls this term so far, he hit a 34% low in the first term and other recent presidents such as Biden hit a 36% low, Barack Obama hit a 40% low, George W. Bush hit a 25% low, and Bill Clinton hit a 37% low, according to the Gallup polls, whose recorded lowest rating was Harry Truman with 22%.
As for the highest presidential approval ratings, George W. Bush holds the highest approval rating ever recorded at 90%, while his father, George H.W. Bush holds the second highest at 89%.
Trump is the only president that has not reached a 50% or higher approval to date in the Gallup polls’ history.
Maria Francis is a Pennsylvania-based journalist covering trending and breaking topics across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions for USA Today Network. Reach her at mfrancis@usatodayco.com.
