President Trump's approval rating has fallen to record lows two weeks before the November 3 midterm elections. A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll released October 18 found 33% of Americans approve of his job performance and 66% disapprove, lower than at any point in his first term. Reuters/Ipsos found 32% in early October.
The Silver Bulletin polling average put his net approval at -22.3 on October 18, after an all-time low of -23.9 over the previous weekend.
What do the latest Trump approval polls show?
| Poll | Dates | Approve | Disapprove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos (adults) | Oct. 9–13 | 33% | 66% |
| Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos (likely voters) | Oct. 9–13 | 38% | 62% |
| Reuters/Ipsos | reported Oct. 5 | 32% | — |
| CBS News/YouGov | Sept. 30–Oct. 2 | 39% | 61% |
| Quinnipiac (registered voters) | Sept. 24–27 | 34% | 61% |
| CNN/SSRS | Sept. 16–17 | 33% | 67% |
| Emerson (likely voters) | Sept. 21–22 | 39% | 58% |
| PBS News/NPR/Marist (registered voters) | Sept. 14–15 | 39% | 53% |
| Harvard CAPS/Harris (registered voters) | Sept. 26–28 | 42% | — |
Earlier poll figures as compiled by Forbes.
The Post-ABC-Ipsos poll surveyed 2,545 adults through the Ipsos KnowledgePanel, with a margin of error of ±2 points. Trump's approval in that poll is down 4 points since July and 8 points from a year earlier. Fifty-two percent strongly disapprove.
Why is Trump's approval falling?
The polls point to two main drivers: prices and the war with Iran.
- Economy. Only 28% approve of Trump's handling of the economy, down from 33% in July and 41% in February.
- Gas prices. 71% say gasoline is not affordable, up from 29% in February.
- Iran. 65% say U.S. military action against Iran was a mistake.
- Personal finances. 48% say they are worse off than when Trump returned to office in 2025.
- Direction. 72% say the country is on the wrong track.
The Silver Bulletin average shows the same pattern by issue: net approval of -30.6 on trade, -32.9 on the economy and -48.9 on inflation.
For the first time since 2014 in Post-ABC polling, Democrats hold an edge on which party is trusted more on the economy, 40% to 33% among registered voters.
What does it mean for the midterms?
A president's approval rating is one of the strongest predictors of how his party does in a midterm. In the Post-ABC-Ipsos poll:
- Democrats lead the generic House ballot by 8 points among registered and likely voters, up from 3 points among registered voters in July.
- 58% prefer a Democratic-led Congress as a check on Trump; 39% want a Republican Congress to support his agenda.
- 75% of Democrats say they are certain to vote, compared with 67% of Republicans.
Neither party is popular: 63% view the Republican Party unfavorably and 54% view the Democratic Party unfavorably.
The national numbers are reflected in state polls. Trump's approval was 37% among likely voters in a WRAL/WSOC poll of North Carolina — see our North Carolina Senate race report — and 44% among Iowa likely voters in a Marist poll.
Is there any sign of recovery?
Slightly. Silver Bulletin noted a small rebound from its all-time low, driven largely by TIPP Insights and Noble Predictive Insights polls showing net ratings of -13 and -12. Results also vary by population: Trump typically does better among likely voters than among all adults, as the Post-ABC-Ipsos numbers show.
For the full race-by-race picture, see our midterms state of play.
