President Donald Trump’s job disapproval rating has reached a new high in a recent survey.
In the January 2026 Strength In Numbers/Verasight poll, 40 percent of respondents said they approved of Trump’s job performance, while 58 percent disapproved—resulting in a net score of -18. “This is a new low in our tracking,” wrote Strength in Numbers’ G. Elliot Morris in an article on the findings.
When asked for comment, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Newsweek: “President Trump won the 2024 election in a landslide based on his promise to carry out the largest mass deportation of criminal illegal aliens.”
Why It Matters
The poll comes as Trump recently marked one year since beginning his second term. Newsweek reported last week that several surveys suggest the president’s approval rating has been slipping, alongside weakening confidence on issues closely tied to his political brand, including the economy.
At the same time, polling has historically underestimated support for the Republican—something Pew Research Center has attributed to response patterns, noting that people most likely to participate in surveys are also more likely to vote Democratic for president.
What To Know
Strength In Numbers also found that support among political independents was significantly lower: 27 percent approved of Trump’s job performance, while 63 percent disapproved.
The pollster also said Trump’s approval ratings on immigration, deportation policy, and border security had declined since its previous survey in October 2025.
Verasight conducted the survey from January 14 to January 20, 2026, sampling 1,532 U.S. residents ages 18 and older. The margin of error was 2.5 percentage points.
The survey also asked about the U.S.’ recent military intervention in Venezuela, which resulted in American forces capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. On that question, 45 percent said they either somewhat or strongly opposed the strike, while 42 percent said they either somewhat or strongly supported it.
What People Are Saying
Andrew Wroe, a senior lecturer in American politics at the University of Kent in the U.K., told Newsweek: “[Trump’s] poll ratings haven’t collapsed. Yes, there has been some decline since he took office again on 20 January 2025, but that’s normal for modern presidents as the inaugural boost diminishes and the vagaries of governing come to the fore.
“Indeed, what’s perhaps more notable is how steady his numbers are, hovering in the low 40’s for several months now. That’s because nearly all Republicans approve of his performance while nearly all Democrats disapprove. The loyalty of his MAGA supporters, while not unconditional, should prevent a dramatic decline in the polls. And the baked-in hostility of all those who don’t identify as Republicans will, conversely, prevent any dramatic increase in his numbers.”
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Newsweek: “President Trump won the 2024 election in a landslide based on his promise to carry out the largest mass deportation of criminal illegal aliens.”
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told Newsweek earlier in January: “President Trump took office with a resounding mandate from the nearly 80 million Americans who voted for him to secure our border, end Joe Biden’s inflation crisis, remove criminal illegal aliens from our streets, and restore American Greatness both at home and abroad.
“He has firmly cemented his legacy as the Peace President, having ended eight wars and counting and saving millions of lives. He is delivering on his promises, and the American people remain firmly aligned with the President’s agenda to Make America Great Again, regardless of the Mainstream Media’s so-called polling.”
What Happens Next
With the 2026 midterms approaching, it remains to be seen whether shifting approval trends will translate into election results.
