President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to its lowest point during his second term, according to a new Gallup poll released Thursday. Just 37% of Americans approve of the president’s performance—a figure approaching the 34% rating he received in the final days of his first term, following the January 6 Capitol riot.
Why It Matters
Trump has long leaned on favorable polling to project political strength at rallies and in media appearances. A sustained dip in approval, particularly among independents, could undercut his influence as Republicans gear up for the 2026 midterms. Despite early momentum after returning to the White House in January, months of economic anxiety and backlash over immigration policies and a controversial tax overhaul appear to have eroded public support.
While fluctuations in approval ratings are typical, the downward trend may signal mounting challenges for Trump and his party as Democrats look to reclaim control of Congress.
The Numbers
Since taking office in January, Trump’s overall approval has dropped 10 points, and a staggering 17 points among independent voters—a group considered critical to GOP hopes in 2026. Gallup previously recorded his second-term low at 40% in June.
The most recent poll, conducted July 7–21 among 1,002 U.S. adults, carries a margin of error of ±4 percentage points.
Approval ratings for Trump’s handling of specific issues have also declined:
- Immigration: Net -22% (38% approve, 60% disapprove)
- Economy: Negative trend since February
- Middle East: Declining approval amid ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict
- Foreign Trade: Mixed, but slipping
Nevertheless, Trump retains strong support among Republicans, with high intra-party approval on nearly every issue polled.
What Analysts Are Saying
CNN data analyst Harry Enten commented on X: “A new low for Trump, as the USS Donald Trump takes on a lot of water. His net approval has dropped 17 points since January to -11 now. Underwater on all major issues—from immigration (-5) to Epstein (-37). Only presidency with worse numbers at this point? Trump term 1.”
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council noted: “Gallup reports Trump at a net -22% on immigration—his second worst ever.”
Gallup summarized: “Trump ends Q2 of his second term having delivered on much of his agenda. Yet outside of his Republican base, few Americans are satisfied with his performance. His rating has reached its second-term low, matching levels from the same point in his first term.”
Trump Responds
On Truth Social, Trump dismissed the findings and claimed internal numbers tell a different story:
“My Poll Numbers within the Republican Party, and MAGA, have gone up significantly since the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax was exposed by the Radical Left Democrats and ‘troublemakers.’ They’ve hit 90%, 92%, 93%, and 95% in various polls—Republican Party records! The General Election numbers are my highest, EVER!”
What’s Next
As the 2026 midterms approach, the declining approval—especially among independents, younger voters, and women—could imperil Republican control of Congress. Historically, the president’s party loses seats in midterm elections; in 2018, Democrats gained 40 House seats during Trump’s first term.
Unless the administration can reverse these trends, Trump’s political capital could be significantly weakened heading into a pivotal election season.
