Donald Trump’s Approval Hits Lows in May 2026 Polls

National surveys released May 18-20, 2026, show President Donald Trump at record disapproval levels. New York Times/Siena poll (May 11-15) logged 59 % disapproval, its highest ever. Fox News poll (May 15-18) found 61 % disapprove, 39 % approve, and 71 % disapproval of his economic handling—the highest in that series.

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Disapproval ranged from 59 % (NYT/Siena) to 61 % (Fox), while approval fell to 39 % (Fox). Economic handling disapproval peaked at 71 % (Fox) with net scores of –42 on the economy and –52 on inflation; inflation approval dropped to 24 % (Fox). Republican approval hit its second-term low, with 51 % disapproving inflation versus over 85 % of independents and 96 % of Democrats. Republican-specific disapproval of the economy was 37 % (AP/NORC), and 30 % disapproved of Trump’s handling of the Iran war (AP/NORC).

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YouGov/The Economist poll (May 15-18) found Trump’s approval among adults 30-44 at 28 % with 62 % disapproval—the first sub-29 % rating for that cohort. A May 9-11 YouGov survey recorded 33 % approval for the same age group.

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White House spokespeople described the polls as a temporary snapshot, stressed the economy’s resilience, and highlighted the administration’s healthcare and housing agenda. They also cited the 2024 election as the “ultimate poll,” pointing to the near-80 million-vote mandate.

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Analysts note that disapproval now spans job performance, issue-specific handling, and key voter groups. The sharp rise in economic disapproval, especially among younger voters and non-MAGA Republicans, is seen as a catalyst for intra-party challenges.

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The Fox poll’s 71 % overall economic disapproval contrasts with the AP/NORC finding that 37 % of Republicans disapprove of Trump’s economic handling, showing variation across samples. No poll offers longitudinal data beyond May 2026, leaving trends unmeasured.

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The president’s party typically loses ground in midterms. Analysts cite past cycles—Democrats flipping 41 House seats in 2018 and Republicans gaining nine seats in 2022—as precedents. Low approval could raise Republican risk of seat losses in November 2026.

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The 2026 midterm campaign will center on Trump’s approval metrics, with Republican candidates and strategists tracking the evolving polling landscape. Summer and fall surveys will test whether current lows signal a lasting shift or a temporary dip.

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• “Despite consistently strong GOP support, the president's numbers are leaking a bit,” — Daron Shaw, pollster

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• “Make no mistake; it's all about affordability. Independents jumped ship in 2025, and now non-MAGA Republicans and other core constituencies are wavering.” — Daron Shaw, pollster

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• “the ultimate poll was November 5th 2024 when nearly 80 million Americans overwhelmingly elected President Trump to deliver on his popular and commonsense agenda.” — Davis Ingle, White House spokesman

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