Story perspectives

Polls Show Trump Approval at 34%, Lowest Since 1946

By Drooid · Oct 21, 2026, 10:13 PM UTC · How we work

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Gasoline price surge

U.S. voters will cast ballots in the 2026 midterm elections on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.
National gasoline prices rose to $4.28 per gallon, a 44% increase since Feb. 28, 2026, adding about $1,200 to a typical household’s annual expenses.
A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll on Oct. 18 gave President Donald Trump 33% approval, 66% disapproval.
An NBC News poll showed 34% approval, 66% disapproval; 71% think it is off track.

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Youth GOP Disapproval

U.S. voters nationwide will cast ballots in the 2026 midterm elections on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Polls show voters blame widespread economic hardship and the ongoing Iran war for their historic anti-Trump sentiment.
The survey shows President Donald Trump’s approval at 34 %, the lowest level since 1946.
About 40 % of Republican-aligned adults under 45 disapprove of Trump, with 29-point lower voting motivation.

History

Historical Context

The 1992 United States presidential election, held on November 3, 1992, saw incumbent President George H. W. Bush lose amid recession and the Gulf War’s aftermath. Bush’s approval slipped to 31 % in October while unemployment rose to 7.5 % and the economy contracted 1.8 %, prompting Bill Clinton and independent Ross Perot to surge. Similarly, the 2026 midterm contests feature President Donald Trump’s sub-34 % approval, gasoline climbing to $4.28 per gallon, and voter backlash over the Iran war, mirroring 1992’s anti-incumbent wave. The 1992 upset forced the Republican and Democratic parties to retool messaging around economics and conflict, a strategic template influencing 2026 campaigns.

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Gasoline price surge

U.S. voters will cast ballots in the 2026 midterm elections on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.
National gasoline prices rose to $4.28 per gallon, a 44% increase since Feb. 28, 2026, adding about $1,200 to a typical household’s annual expenses.
A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll on Oct. 18 gave President Donald Trump 33% approval, 66% disapproval.
An NBC News poll showed 34% approval, 66% disapproval; 71% think it is off track.

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