Full Breakdown
Record Low Approval for the U.S. Supreme Court Amid Republican Backlash
7/28/2026, 8:22:50 PM
Core Event
A Gallup poll released in late July 2026 found that only 33 % of American adults approve of the Supreme Court’s job performance, while 61 % disapprove. Republican approval fell to 58 %, down from 79 % in September 2025. The poll surveyed 1,200 adults by telephone from July 1-19, shortly after the Court issued its final decisions for the 2025-2026 term.
Background & Context
Gallup has tracked sentiment toward the Court for 26 years, polling in July after a term ends and in September before the next term begins. Approval among all Americans has hovered in the 40 % range since 2010. Historically, Republican approval averaged 56 % and Democratic approval near 12 %. The current 58 % Republican rating is the lowest since September 2023, and the overall 33 % approval is the lowest ever recorded.
Data & Statistics
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Overall approval | 33 % |
| Overall disapproval | 61 % |
| Republican approval | 58 % (down from 79 % in Sep 2025) |
| Democratic approval | 12 % |
| Independent approval | 35 % |
| Margin of error | ±4 pp |
| Sample size | 1,200 adults |
Official Statements & Responses
Gallup linked the Republican decline to recent rulings that opposed key Trump-administration policies, including decisions on tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, birthright citizenship, and the removal of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. The Court also upheld state laws restricting female transgender athletes and allowed states to count mail-in ballots received after Election Day, drawing mixed reactions from the president’s base.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Republicans' approval rating of the Supreme Court has dropped to 58% from a near-record high 79% in the last measurement in September,” — Gallup
- “This decline may indicate that rulings unfavorable to the Trump administration this term, such as those on tariffs and birthright citizenship, weigh more heavily in Republicans' evaluations of the court than the rulings that favored [President Donald] Trump and the GOP,” — Gallup
Why It Matters
The poll shows low approval across the political spectrum: Democrats and independents remain near historic lows, while Republicans have turned sharply against the Court after a term that curtailed several Trump-era initiatives. Public confidence in the judiciary has historically correlated with the Court’s ideological composition and alignment with the sitting president’s agenda.
What’s Next
Gallup will conduct its next July poll after the Court’s 2026-2027 term concludes, providing a benchmark for whether the low approval persists or rebounds.
