Full Breakdown
Trump’s Approval Rating 18 Months Into His Second Term Shows Widespread Decline
7/20/2026, 9:17:59 PM
National Approval Snapshot
A Civiqs rolling online poll of 117,851 registered voters released on July 17 2026 shows President Donald Trump holding a 37 percent approval rating and a 58 percent disapproval rating nationwide, yielding a net approval of -21. The figure is lower than the net approval recorded on January 20 2025, when Trump began his second term.
State-Level Shifts
Trump remains positively rated only in the Republican heartland, with the strongest net approvals in Wyoming +24, North Dakota +18, Idaho +14, and West Virginia +16—all declines from the start-term highs of +47, +34, +34, and +35 respectively. In contrast, deep-blue states stay firmly negative, the lowest being Hawaii -59, followed by Vermont -55, Maryland -50, California -44, and Massachusetts -46.
Every major swing state now shows a negative net rating: Arizona -11, Georgia -21, Nevada -21, North Carolina -13, Pennsylvania -14, Wisconsin -15, Florida -12, and Ohio -11. Several of these were positive or even at the start of the term (e.g., Florida moved from +9 to -12; Ohio from +8 to -11).
Demographic Trends
The poll highlights persistent demographic divides. Among adults 18-34, only 24 percent approve of Trump’s performance while 69 percent disapprove. Voters 35-49 show 29 percent approval versus 64 percent disapproval. Independents are at 30 percent approval and 63 percent disapproval. Women disapprove by a 64-31 margin; men are closer at 51 percent disapproval and 43 percent approval. Education is a strong separator: post-graduates approve at 25 percent versus 71 percent disapproval, whereas non-college graduates are 41 percent approving and 54 percent disapproving.
Implications for the 2026 Election Cycle
The uniform negativity in every battleground state narrows Trump’s margin for error ahead of the 2026 congressional and presidential contests. Even modest shifts among younger voters, independents, or highly educated constituents could alter the balance of power in the House, Senate, and potentially the White House.
Official White House Response
The White House continues to cite Trump’s 2024 electoral victory—nearly 80 million votes—as a mandate for his agenda, arguing that the election result remains the clearest indicator of public support.
