Full Breakdown
Trump’s Approval Rating Hits New Low Ahead of 2024 Midterms
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Core Event: Marquette Law School poll records 37 % approval
A Marquette Law School national survey conducted online from September 2 to 9 2026 found that 37 % of U.S. adults approved of President Donald Trump’s job performance, while 63 % disapproved, yielding a net rating of -26 points. Strong approval dropped from 29 % at the start of his second term to 15 %, and strong disapproval rose to 47 %.
Background & Context: Declining second-term ratings
Trump’s approval has been trending downward since his return to the White House in early 2025. The poll notes a decline from a July high of 40 % to the current low, and marks the lowest Marquette reading since his second term began. Earlier polls in June recorded a 38 % approval level, indicating a continuous slide.
Data & Statistics
- Overall approval: 37 % (Marquette); 35 % in a Reuters/Ipsos poll released September 14 2026 (a two-point rise from earlier weeks).
- Polling averages: CNN’s Poll of Polls (covering surveys August 20 – September 14) reported 36 % approval and 63 % disapproval; RealClearPolling’s average for August 26 – September 15 gave 39.7 % approval and 58.2 % disapproval (net -18.5). Nate Silver’s Silver Bulletin tracker listed a net approval of -19.5 as of September 16.
- Issue-specific ratings: Inflation handling 19 %; gasoline-price handling 20 %; border-security approval fell below 50 %; Iran-war handling 26 %.
- Generic congressional ballot: Democrats led Republicans by 13 points among likely voters and 12 points among registered voters. Among likely voters, 54 % favored Democrats versus 41 % for Republicans.
Official Statements & Responses
White House spokesman Davis Ingle contended that the 2024 presidential election provides a more meaningful gauge of public support than any single poll, emphasizing that the administration’s economic agenda remains “taking effect.”
Why It Matters: Midterm implications
The low presidential rating coincides with a widening Democratic advantage in the generic congressional ballot, suggesting potential headwinds for Republican House and Senate candidates. Voter enthusiasm data show 77 % of registered Democrats confident they will vote versus 69 % of Republicans, and a 47 % to 32 % advantage for Democrats in “very enthusiastic” respondents. Analysts note that high gas and inflation concerns—issues where Trump’s handling scores below 25 %—could translate into electoral penalties for the GOP in competitive districts.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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