Trump’s Approval Ratings Slip After White House Shooting

The White House correspondents’ dinner was disrupted on Saturday, April 2026, when a gunman opened fire on the event. A YouGov poll of 1,836 U.S. adults conducted two days before and after the shooting recorded 37 % approval and 59 % disapproval of President Donald Trump, giving a net approval of –22, the lowest level of his second term.

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Trump survived two prior assassination attempts: a July 2024 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a bullet grazed his ear, and a later incident at a golf course where an armed suspect was detained. The same week as the April shooting, King Charles III and Queen Camilla made a state visit to the White House, a trip the president hopes will boost his image.

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Recent surveys place Trump’s approval between 33 % and 40 %. YouGov reports 37 % approve and 59 % disapprove (net –22). The CNBC All-America survey shows a net –18 rating, the lowest across his two terms. An AP-NORC poll finds seven in ten Americans view the U.S. economy as poor.

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David Andersen of the University of Durham says the poll results are only mildly surprising and that without a major victory Trump’s numbers will likely keep falling; any short-term boost cannot overcome broader structural forces. Thomas Gift of University College London notes that the shooting could generate a brief rally-around-the-flag effect, but its impact may be limited.

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Critics link Trump’s low ratings to a cost-of-living crisis, rising fuel prices, and a perceived focus on foreign wars, especially the US-Israeli conflict in Iran. They also blame his tariffs for higher consumer prices, arguing these issues outweigh any sympathy from recent threats.

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The YouGov net –22 differs from the CNBC net –18, reflecting methodological variation. Age-specific approval rates also diverge, and the NBC Republican support figure contrasts with broader public sentiment. No official White House comment on the shooting or the royal visit has been issued, leaving a response gap.

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• “a little surprising, but not very” — David Andersen, University of Durham

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• “any boost is unlikely to overwhelm broader structural forces shaping the race” — David Andersen, University of Durham

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• “short-lived bump in the polls” — Thomas Gift, University College London

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• “Americans often respond sympathetically when a president confronts tragedy – or even a would-be tragedy – and political science has long documented these kinds of ‘rally-around-the-flag’ effects,” — Thomas Gift, University College London

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The November 2026 midterms will decide control of the House and Senate. Republicans currently hold majorities, but falling presidential approval could endanger Republican candidates in swing districts. Though Trump’s name will not appear on the ballot, the contests are viewed as a referendum on his administration.

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