The up-and-down nature of approval polls can paint a picture of the landscape heading into the 2026 elections.
President Donald Trump’s net disapproval rating has slipped to its lowest during his second term in office, a new poll by The Economist and YouGov shows.Why It Matters
Trump has routinely touted positive approval ratings and polling at news conferences and campaign rallies. Declines in these numbers could hinder his political clout in an already highly polarized climate as the 2026 midterms approach.
When Trump returned to the White House in January, he coasted in with high approval figures. But after months marked by economic uncertainty and criticism, the administration has faced over policies like his handling of immigration and his recently passed tax bill, Trump has seen a dip.
The up-and-down nature of approval polls can paint a picture of the landscape heading into the 2026 elections, where Democrats hope to regain control of the House and the Senate.What To Know
In the poll, the president has a 40 percent approval rating and a 55 percent disapproval rating.
«This net disapproval—the percent who approve minus the percent who disapprove—of -15 is the lowest Trump has received in his second term», YouGov’s Public Relations Lead Allen Houston told Newsweek.
The poll surveyed 1,777 respondents from July 25 to July 28 with a margin of error of 3.4 percent.
Trump’s approval ratings are also underwater on key policy issues, including down 11 percent on jobs and the economy, down 25 percent on inflation and prices and down 6 percent on immigration, the poll shows.
