Former President Donald Trump’s approval rating has entered a prolonged slump, with several major national polls showing his standing falling below where it was at the same point in his first term—and below President Joe Biden’s ratings at a comparable stage in his tenure.
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Trump’s net approval has now been deeply negative for seven consecutive weeks in the Economist/YouGov tracking survey. The Nov. 28–Dec. 1 poll of 1,628 U.S. adults found 38% approve of the job Trump is doing, while 57% disapprove, giving him a net approval of -19 (margin of error 3.2). According to YouGov, during Trump’s first term his net approval never stayed at or below -15 for more than three straight weeks. At this same point in their presidencies, Biden’s net approval stood at -9, while Trump’s first-term net approval was -15.
Recent Polls On Trump’s Approval
- Nov. 19–17 (NPR/PBS/Marist)
In the latest NPR/PBS/Marist survey of 1,443 U.S. adults conducted Nov. 10–13 (margin of error 3 points), Trump’s approval rating dipped two points to 39%, while his disapproval rose from 53% to 56%.
The same poll indicated a favorable environment for Democrats heading into next year’s midterms: 55% said they would be more likely to vote for the Democrat in their district, compared to 41% for the Republican candidate. - Nov. 18–22 (Reuters/Ipsos)
A Reuters/Ipsos poll of 1,017 voters conducted Nov. 14–17 (margin of error 3 points) found Trump’s approval slipping to 38%, a two-point drop from the previous survey and a new low for his second term in this series.
Only 20% approved of Trump’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. A large majority—70%—believe the government is hiding Epstein’s alleged client list, and 61% think it is withholding information about his death. - Nov. 13–18 (Reuters/Ipsos)
The prior Reuters/Ipsos survey of 938 registered voters conducted Nov. 7–12 (margin of error 6) showed Trump’s approval at 40%, unchanged from the week before, while his disapproval ticked up one point to 58%.
Taken after Republicans lost key races in New Jersey, Virginia and New York City on Nov. 4, the poll also found 44% of Democrats are “very enthusiastic” about voting in the midterms, compared to just 26% of Republicans. - Nov. 10–10 (Morning Consult)
Morning Consult’s weekly survey of 2,201 registered voters taken Nov. 7–9 (margin of error 2) showed Trump at 44% approval, a second-term low in that series, with 54% disapproving. - Nov. 10–7 (Harvard CAPS/Harris)
In the Harvard CAPS/Harris poll of 2,000 registered voters taken Nov. 4–6 (margin of error 1.99), Trump’s approval also slid to 44%, another second-term low in that poll.
His approval rating on all nine key issues the poll tracks has fallen below 50%, though he scores relatively better on crime and immigration, which are his strongest areas in the survey.
The poll further found 75% of respondents oppose the ongoing government shutdown, and 53% blame Republicans more than Democrats. - Nov. 3 (CNN/SSRS)
A CNN poll by SSRS recorded Trump’s approval at 37%, the lowest CNN has measured during his second term—though still slightly above the 36% he received ten months into his first term.
His disapproval climbed to 63%, surpassing his 62% disapproval rating when he left office in 2021.
On the midterm ballot question, Democrats held a five-point lead among registered voters—smaller than the 11-point edge they had at a similar point in 2017 ahead of the 2018 midterms. - Nov. 2 (Washington Post–ABC News–Ipsos)
In an October Washington Post–ABC News–Ipsos poll, Trump fared slightly better, with 41% approval and 59% disapproval.
About 63% of respondents described Trump as “out of touch” with Americans. An even larger share, 68%, said the same about the Democratic Party. - Oct. 29–19 (Economist/YouGov)
In an Oct. 24–27 Economist/YouGov poll of 1,623 U.S. adults (margin of error 3.5), Trump’s approval fell to 39%, with 58% disapproving—another second-term low in that series.
His net approval in that poll was worse than in all but one Economist/YouGov survey from his first term.
Despite this, Trump told reporters on Tuesday that he has the “highest [poll] numbers I ever had,” echoing a claim he also made on Truth Social, even as most polling shows his approval has dropped significantly since he returned to office in January. - Oct. 28–17 (Reuters/Ipsos)
Reuters/Ipsos polling of 1,018 U.S. adults taken Oct. 24–26 (margin of error 3 points) found Trump’s job approval at 40%, down two points from a previous 42%, while 57% disapproved.
A majority, 52%, said the government shutdown has no direct impact on their lives. - Oct. 27–5 (Morning Consult)
In the Oct. 24–26 Morning Consult survey of 2,200 registered voters (margin of error 2), Trump’s approval held at 46%, with 51% disapproving—unchanged from the prior week. - Oct. 22–17 (Economist/YouGov)
An Oct. 17–20 Economist/YouGov poll of 1,621 adults (margin of error 3.4) showed 39% approving of Trump’s job performance and 56% disapproving.
In that survey, 39% of respondents blamed Republicans for the government shutdown, compared to 31% who blamed Democrats; 24% blamed both parties equally, and 7% were unsure. - Oct. 21–14 (Reuters/Ipsos)
In a Reuters/Ipsos survey conducted Oct. 15–20, Trump’s approval rose two points to 42%, up from 40% in the Oct. 3–7 poll, while his disapproval fell from 58% to 56%.
Even so, 50% of respondents said they primarily blame Republicans for the shutdown, compared to 43% who blamed Democrats; 7% did not answer. - Oct. 20–5 (Morning Consult)
Morning Consult’s Oct. 17–19 survey of 2,200 registered voters (margin of error 2) showed Trump’s approval climbing to 51%, its highest level since late August, with 46% disapproving.
Big Number
41% – Trump’s average approval rating so far in his second term, according to Gallup. That matches his 41% average approval over the entirety of his first term.
How Trump Stacks Up Against Past Presidents
Trump’s combined first- and second-term approval average of 41% is lower than that of any president since Harry Truman, based on Gallup data. Joe Biden has the next-lowest average at 42%, followed by Truman at 45% and Jimmy Carter at 46%.
Why His Ratings Are Struggling
Trump’s weak polling comes as he moves deeper into his lame-duck second term and faces visible cracks within his MAGA base.
- Epstein documents and Congress:
The House recently passed legislation requiring the Justice Department to release documents on the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Trump ultimately endorsed the bill—after initial reluctance—once it became clear it had strong Republican backing. - GOP election setbacks:
Republicans’ losses in New Jersey, Virginia and New York City in November have been widely seen as a rebuke of Trump’s hard-charging second-term agenda. - Shutdown and legislative fights:
The federal government finally reopened on Nov. 12 after a record 43-day shutdown, driven by Democrats’ refusal to support a GOP spending plan that excluded an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies and did not reverse Medicaid cuts. - Foreign policy milestone:
Trump brokered a cease-fire in the Israel–Hamas war, announced in September, that required Hamas to release its remaining hostages being held in Gaza—a move widely regarded as his most significant foreign policy success in his second term. - Domestic agenda and tariffs:
In June, Congress approved Trump’s flagship policy package, extending his 2017 tax cuts and tightening border controls.
His approval dropped markedly after he unveiled sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs on April 2 covering nearly all U.S. trading partners, though he has since scaled back many of those measures. - Workforce cuts and immigration crackdown:
Trump’s push to sharply reduce the federal workforce—backed by the then-Elon Musk–led Department of Government Efficiency—and his mass deportation drive have drawn intense criticism, multiple legal challenges and fresh questions about the limits of executive power.
Taken together, these developments have shaped a political climate in which Trump’s approval rating has drifted downward, even as he continues to insist his polling is stronger than ever.
