Trump’s Record-Low Approval Threatens GOP Midterm Prospects

President Donald Trump is holding a national rally tour ahead of the November 3 midterm elections while his job-performance approval sits at a career-low 32 % in a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll. Among Hispanic voters, approval is just 24 %, and only 26 % say they will vote Republican on November 3. The poll surveyed 4,506 U.S. adults online with a margin of error of about two points.

The Straits Times

Trump’s 2024 victory relied heavily on Hispanic support—nearly half of the Hispanic vote versus roughly one-third in 2020. Since then, high inflation tied to the U.S.–Iran war and a series of contentious policy moves (e.g., a March executive order to screen mail-in ballots, later blocked by courts) have eroded that base.

The Straits Times

• Reuters/Ipsos (Oct 5): 32 % overall approval; 24 % Hispanic approval; 26 % of Hispanic voters plan to back Republicans on Nov 3.

The Straits Times

• NBC News poll: 52 % of Latino respondents intend to vote Democrat, giving Democrats a 24-point lead on congressional control. 78 % disapprove of Trump’s handling of the cost of living; 74 % disapprove of his economic policies.

NBC News

• Civiqs rolling tracker (Jan 20 2025 – Oct 3 2026): Trump is “underwater” in all eight states earmarked for major economic investments. In Texas, 57 % disapprove versus 36 % approve (net -21). In Iowa, 55 % disapprove versus 36 % approve (net -19).

Newsweek

• AP-NORC poll (late September): 65 % of Americans blame Trump for rising prices.

CNN

• Harvard/Harris poll: Approval among voters aged 18-24 rose from 25 % in July to 41 % in September, still underwater by 13 points.

Newsweek

The GOP’s narrow congressional majority hinges on turnout in states where Trump once won double-digit margins. A shift among Hispanic/Latino voters—who now favor Democrats by a 21-point margin on the economy—could flip competitive House districts in Texas, Florida, Nevada and elsewhere. Senate races in Ohio and other red-state contests are also within the “swing” range, making the midterms a de-facto referendum on Trump’s presidency.

Boston Globe

• Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) warned of a “risk” that Trump could lash out if Republicans lose control, urging the party not to attack its own members.

The Hill

• Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, dismissed claims that voters are “depressed” as a “classic Democrat move.”

CNN

• Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) linked the cost-of-living crisis to the Iran war, challenging the administration’s narrative.

Republicans in Safe Red States Are Breaking With Trump, Too

• Steve Schmidt, political strategist, called Trump’s rallies “the engine of his doom,” arguing they may be harming Republican prospects.

The Guardian

• Jonathan Smith, a 19-year-old construction worker in Vandalia, Ohio, told Reuters, “I’ve got a wedding to save up for, and with gas prices continuously going up, it’s getting harder and harder to put aside money.”

KSL-TV

• National approval varies: Reuters/Ipsos reports 32 % approval, while a Wall Street Journal poll placed Trump at 37 % and a Quinnipiac poll at 34 % with 61 % disapproval.

USA Today

• Latino sentiment shows a broad Democratic advantage, yet individual interviews (e.g., Luisa Santiago, Florida retiree) reveal lingering personal support for Trump despite broader trends.

NBC News

Trump’s rally itinerary includes stops in Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Ohio and Nebraska during the final weeks before November 3. Senate races in Ohio, Texas and other competitive states will be decided in the same election. Republicans are reallocating campaign funds and emphasizing “affordability” messaging as they confront the dual challenges of low presidential approval and shifting Latino voter preferences.

Reuters