US midterm elections 2026: Trump's approval rating falls to record low as 2026 Midterms near

President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to its lowest level across his two terms, according to a new poll from The Associated Press and NORC at the University of Chicago. The poll found that just 31% of Americans approved of the way Trump is handling his job as president, while 69% disapproved. The findings come as the November 2026 midterm elections draw closer. The same survey also points to growing concerns about prices, the economy and the direction of the country, as per a report by Newsweek.

What does the new Trump approval poll show?

Trump’s overall approval rating in the AP-NORC poll stood at about three in 10 adults, with 69% saying they disapproved of his performance. The poll was conducted from September 24 through 28 among 2,140 adults using NORC’s probability-based panel. The margin of error was plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.

The poll also found that 73% of Americans believe the country is heading in the wrong direction. Meanwhile, 46% said their families were worse off than they were when Trump began his second term.

Trump entered his second term with a 50.5% approval rating and 44.3% disapproval, according to the figures provided in the polling data. His approval has since declined.



Civiqs’ rolling tracking poll of registered voters, with figures captured through September 28, also showed Trump underwater in 39 states and every major battleground state. Civiqs put his overall approval at 34%.

The president still had a net approval rating in 10 states: Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama and West Virginia.

Why are cost of living concerns growing?

The economy and household costs were major parts of the AP-NORC findings.

About 65% of adults said Trump’s policies were responsible for higher-than-usual prices. Another 69% said his handling of the cost of living had been worse than expected.

The latest AP-NORC reporting also found that only 17% approved of Trump’s handling of the cost of living, while 26% approved of his handling of the economy overall. Both figures point to deep concern about the economic picture.

Immigration, which had previously been one of Trump’s stronger issues, also showed a decline in the figures provided. Overall approval of his handling of immigration stood at 39%, compared with 48% when he returned to office, according to the supplied polling data.

The Iran war was another weak point. Seventy-one percent of adults disapproved of Trump’s handling of the situation, while 69% said the war had not been worth fighting.

Emily Alvarez, an analyst with NORC, told Newsweek: "Since he's not on the ballot, the extent to which his numbers do or don't bode well for either party will depend on how much voters tie the candidates who are on the ballot to President Trump and the way he's been governing,"

Trump has nevertheless closely linked himself to the midterms. During a September appearance in Dallas, he urged supporters to "pretend" he was on the ballot as Republicans seek to maintain their congressional majorities.

What has the White House said about the numbers?

White House spokesperson Davis Ingle defended Trump’s record in a statement to Newsweek.

“No one can dispute the fact that President Trump has created one of the most robust coalitions in political history with the MAGA movement, and the President understands how to communicate with them. President Trump is the unequivocal leader, best messenger, and unmatched motivator for the Republican Party, and he is committed to maintaining Republican majorities in Congress."

Ingle also told Newsweek: "The President signed the largest working-class tax cuts in history, lowered the cost of prescription drugs, sealed the border, drove violent crime to the lowest level in nearly a century, unleashed an energy revolution, added more than a million private-sector jobs, and sent Americans’ 401(k)s climbing to record highs.

"The choice has never been more clear: doubling down on President Trump’s winning, commonsense agenda or the Democrats’ extreme liberal policies and obstruction.”

He had previously said that almost 80 million Americans who voted for Trump had given him a mandate to "deliver on his popular and commonsense agenda."

"No other President in history has accomplished more for the American people than President Trump, who is working tirelessly to create jobs, cool inflation, increase housing affordability, and more," Ingle added.

Why does the approval rating matter before the midterms?

The November 3 midterm elections will decide all 435 seats in the House and 35 Senate seats.

Republicans currently hold a narrow House majority, with 219 seats to Democrats’ 213. The House requires 218 seats for control.

The Senate also faces a major contest over its balance of power. The supplied figures say Democrats need to win 17 seats while Republicans need 20.

The election could affect how the Trump administration moves forward with its legislative priorities if Republicans lose control of either chamber.

Traditionally, the party that does not hold the White House has performed better in midterm elections. However, Trump himself is not on the ballot in 2026.

The AP-NORC findings therefore provide a snapshot of public opinion ahead of the election, while the effect of those numbers on individual House and Senate races will depend on how voters view the candidates and the issues in their own states and districts.

FAQs

What is Trump’s approval rating?
The AP-NORC poll puts it at 31%.

When are the 2026 midterms?
The general election is November 3, 2026.