This concerning for Trump and the GOP but he can bounce back.
President Donald Trump has reached a new low in a major national poll as Republicans prepare for the 2026 midterm elections.
A Wall Street Journal survey found that 37 percent of registered voters approve of Trump’s job performance, while 61 percent disapprove.
According to the Journal, the 37 percent approval rating is the lowest it has recorded for any president heading into a midterm election in polling dating back to 1990.
The numbers come at a politically important moment, with control of the House and Senate at stake and voters continuing to express concerns about the economy, inflation and the cost of living.
Trump Approval Rating Drops to 37 Percent
The Wall Street Journal poll surveyed 1,500 registered voters from September 16 through September 21.
It found that only 37 percent approved of Trump’s performance as president, compared with 61 percent who disapproved.
The results place Trump in historically difficult territory heading into a midterm election and add to a series of recent surveys showing increased dissatisfaction with the White House.
The poll also suggested some weakness among voters who previously supported Trump.
According to the survey, 11 percent of Americans who voted for Trump in the 2024 presidential election now say they regret their decision.
Among Republicans who do not identify with the MAGA movement, 11 percent said they planned to support a Democratic congressional candidate in the upcoming election.
Those numbers could become increasingly important as Republican candidates attempt to hold congressional seats in competitive states and districts.
Trump Poll Numbers Show Broader Decline
The Wall Street Journal survey is not the only recent poll showing Trump with weaker approval numbers.
Several national polling averages have placed the president’s net approval rating deep in negative territory.
Nate Silver’s polling tracker recently showed Trump’s net approval rating at minus 22.4 percentage points, reportedly the lowest point of either of his presidential terms.
Other surveys have produced similarly weak results.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll placed Trump’s approval rating at 32 percent, while an American Research Group survey reported an approval rating of 29 percent.
Individual polls can vary because of differences in methodology, sample size and question wording. However, the broader trend across multiple surveys suggests that a significant portion of the electorate remains dissatisfied with the president’s performance.
Economy and Cost of Living Remain Major Concerns
Economic issues appear to be a major reason behind Trump’s declining approval ratings.
In the Wall Street Journal survey, 65 percent of respondents rated the U.S. economy negatively.
Only 33 percent gave the economy a positive rating.
The survey found that 60 percent of voters said Trump’s economic agenda had worsened economic conditions, while 25 percent believed his policies had improved them.
Inflation, fuel prices, grocery bills, housing costs and household expenses continue to be important concerns for millions of Americans.
For older Americans and retirees living on fixed incomes, even modest increases in food, electricity, insurance and transportation costs can have a significant effect on monthly budgets.
That makes economic sentiment especially important heading into the midterm elections.
Inflation Continues to Shape Voter Opinion
Public frustration over inflation has remained one of the most persistent political issues in recent years.
Even when the inflation rate slows, consumers may still face prices that are considerably higher than they were several years earlier.
That distinction matters because voters typically experience inflation through the prices they see at grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies and utility companies.
Household finances can therefore influence public opinion even when broader economic indicators show improvement.
Political analysts have frequently pointed to inflation and dissatisfaction with the economy as major factors behind Trump’s weaker polling numbers.
White House Rejects Negative Polling Narrative
The Trump administration has pushed back against unfavorable polling.
White House officials have argued that Trump’s 2024 election victory remains a more meaningful measure of public support than individual opinion surveys.
Administration officials have also defended the president’s record on jobs, inflation, housing and the broader economy.
The White House has emphasized policies designed to increase domestic manufacturing, expand energy production and encourage investment inside the United States.
Supporters of Trump argue that some of those policies may take time to produce measurable results.
Critics, however, continue to point to higher consumer costs and economic uncertainty.
The competing arguments are likely to remain central to the political debate through Election Day.
Republicans Face Growing Midterm Pressure
Trump’s approval rating also matters because presidents can have a major influence on their party’s performance during midterm elections.
Historically, the president’s party often faces a difficult political environment during a midterm election.
Republican candidates are now attempting to defend congressional seats while responding to voter concerns involving inflation, the economy, foreign policy and government spending.
Some Republican lawmakers have also publicly disagreed with the administration on specific issues.
Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina recently argued that Republican lawmakers should not automatically be considered disloyal when they disagree with the White House.
His comments reflected a broader challenge for Republican candidates who support much of Trump’s agenda but may differ with the administration on individual policies.
Some Republicans Distance Themselves From Trump Policies
Candidates running in competitive races often face a different political environment than lawmakers representing strongly Republican districts or states.
That can create pressure for some Republican candidates to emphasize their independence from the White House.
Issues involving the economy and foreign policy have become especially important in closely contested races.
Candidates may support Trump on immigration, taxes or regulation while disagreeing with the administration on other issues.
How voters respond to those differences could play a major role in determining which party controls Congress after the November elections.
Midterm Elections Could Reshape Washington
The 2026 midterm elections will determine control of the House of Representatives and a significant number of Senate seats.
Even relatively small changes in voter sentiment could have major consequences.
If Democrats gain enough House seats, they could regain control of the chamber and gain greater influence over congressional investigations, spending legislation and the administration’s policy agenda.
Republicans, meanwhile, are working to protect their congressional majorities and maintain support among voters who backed Trump in 2024.
That makes Trump’s approval rating one of several important indicators political observers are watching as Election Day approaches.
Approval Ratings Do Not Guarantee Election Results
Despite the attention surrounding presidential approval ratings, polling does not determine the outcome of an election.
Congressional elections are decided district by district and state by state.
Candidate quality, voter turnout, campaign spending, local economic conditions and regional political issues can all affect the final result.
Polls can also change significantly before Election Day.
A president with a low approval rating may create challenges for candidates from his party, but those numbers alone cannot determine who will win individual races.
Trump Faces a Crucial Final Stretch Before Midterms
The Wall Street Journal’s latest survey nevertheless gives Republicans another reason to closely watch public opinion.
Trump’s 37 percent approval rating represents the lowest recorded level for a president approaching a midterm election in the Journal’s polling history dating back to 1990.
Whether those numbers improve could depend heavily on Americans’ views of the economy.
Inflation, fuel prices, housing costs, grocery bills and household finances are likely to remain major issues throughout the campaign.
Republicans will attempt to convince voters that Trump’s economic policies are beginning to produce results.
Democrats will argue that Americans are paying more and that the administration’s policies have failed to improve household finances.
Ultimately, voters will decide which argument they find more convincing.
But heading into the final stretch before the 2026 midterm elections, the latest polling shows that Trump and Republican candidates are facing a challenging national political environment.
