President Donald Trump’s job approval has inched upward, according to a new survey.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 41 percent of Americans now approve of the president’s performance, up three points from November, when his approval stood at 38 percent.
Why It Matters
Trump’s standing with voters will be closely watched as the country moves toward the November 2026 midterm elections. Even though his name will not appear on the ballot, midterms are often treated as a verdict on the sitting president and their administration. If Trump remains unpopular, it could drag down his party’s candidates.
That risk is heightened for Republicans given their narrow margins in Congress. The GOP currently holds a 219–214 edge in the House of Representatives and a 53–47 majority in the Senate. A modest shift in seats could make it significantly harder for Republicans to advance their agenda over the remainder of Trump’s term.
What To Know
The survey of 4,434 U.S. adults showed 41 percent approve of Trump’s performance, up from November’s 38 percent—his lowest approval rating since returning to the White House in January. Even so, the figure remains below the 47 percent approval recorded at the beginning of this administration.
The poll was conducted from December 3 to December 8 and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.
The slight improvement in his numbers comes as Trump prepares to travel to Pennsylvania to deliver remarks on the economy and his efforts to tackle inflation. On Monday, he unveiled a $12 billion farm aid package designed to support producers facing higher costs and weaker export markets after his decision to impose steeper tariffs on China.
William Hall, an adjunct professor of political science and business at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, told Newsweek that the recent uptick is likely tied to Trump’s “decision to focus more directly on targeting cost-of-living issues” such as subsidies for farmers.
At the same time, other surveys paint a more negative picture. A recent poll by The Economist/YouGov found Trump’s approval at its lowest point since his return to office in January, with 39 percent approving and 58 percent disapproving—a net approval of -19 points.
Meanwhile, I&I/TIPP polling recently measured Trump’s net approval at -3 points, with 44 percent of respondents approving and 47 percent disapproving.
Hall added: “It still remains far too early to tell whether or not his most recent focus targeted toward cost-of-living issues will either be effective or will be short-lived, given his consistent proclivity to change policies on a whim. The results of his decisions on this and several other important issues will, in my view, ultimately, go a long way in both influencing and determining the outcome of the 2026 midterm elections.”
What People Are Saying
Earlier this month, Trump pushed back on unfavorable surveys in a post on Truth Social, writing: “So many Fake Polls are being shown by the Radical Left Media, all slanted heavily toward Democrats and Far Left Wingers…Fake News will never change, they are evil and corrupt, but, as I look around my beautiful surroundings, I say to myself, ‘Oh, look, I’m sitting in the Oval Office!’”
What Happens Next
As his presidency continues, Trump’s approval rating is likely to rise and fall in response to events, policy decisions and economic conditions. Voters will deliver their next major verdict on his leadership and his party’s performance in the midterm elections scheduled for November 2026.
