Story perspectives

Polls Show Trump Approval Near 30%, GOP Control Threatened

By Drooid · Oct 12, 2026, 2:10 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump’s approval rating fell to about 30 % in early October 2026.
A Pew Research survey of 5,062 adults found 68 % disapproved of Trump’s job performance.
The same Pew poll showed only 35 % confidence in Trump’s foreign-policy decisions, a nine-point drop since April 2025.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll found 78 % blamed the administration for rising living-costs, with gasoline at $4.37 per gallon.
Low voter enthusiasm has prompted Senate campaigns in North Carolina and Kansas to shift money, threatening GOP control of Congress.

History

Historical Context

In the 1992 election, incumbent George H. W. Bush’s approval fell during a recession and he captured only 37.5% of the popular vote—the lowest for a sitting president since 1912—letting Democrat Bill Clinton to win with 370 electoral votes. That upset ended 12 years of rule and placed Bush among defeated, a pattern mirrored by Donald Trump’s 2026 approval 30% as voters cite cost concerns.

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Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump’s approval rating fell to about 30 % in early October 2026.
A Pew Research survey of 5,062 adults found 68 % disapproved of Trump’s job performance.
The same Pew poll showed only 35 % confidence in Trump’s foreign-policy decisions, a nine-point drop since April 2025.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll found 78 % blamed the administration for rising living-costs, with gasoline at $4.37 per gallon.
Low voter enthusiasm has prompted Senate campaigns in North Carolina and Kansas to shift money, threatening GOP control of Congress.

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