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By Andrew Stanton
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President Donald Trump’s net approval rating has fallen to an all-time low, according to a new Marist poll released Wednesday, as he faces increasing pressure over the U.S. economy, cost of living and gas prices amid the Iran war.
Trump’s approval rating was 22 points underwater in the poll, his lowest net approval rating in a Marist poll at any point in either of his terms. It's a major warning sign for the GOP, as the president’s approval rating could weaken Republicans running in tight races in the midterm elections—historically, the party in the White House loses seats in the House and Senate during midterms, and the GOP is already holding onto razor-thin majorities in both chambers.
The poll found that 59 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump, while 37 percent give him positive marks. His previous low in a Marist poll came on January 8, 2021, when his net approval sat at -20 points two days after the riot at the U.S. Capitol.
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Americans Disapprove of Trump on Iran, Economy
The war in Iran and the state of the U.S. economy are looming over Trump’s presidency.
Sixty-one percent of Americans said they disapproved of how Trump is handling the economy, up from 58 percent in March, according to the Marist poll. His approval rating on Iran has also dropped to -27 points, down from -18 points in March.
Trump’s approval is being shaped by Americans’ reactions to the Iran war, which began in late February with joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on the country. The impact on gas prices has particularly garnered economic concerns in recent weeks as the conflict has sent prices surging.
Gas prices in the U.S. averaged $4.536 on Wednesday, up from $4.229 one week earlier, $4.119 a month earlier and $3.158 a year earlier, according to AAA. Gas prices surged due to the closure and blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passageway for the global oil supply.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told Newsweek on Wednesday that "the ultimate poll was November 5th 2024 when nearly 80 million Americans overwhelmingly elected President Trump to deliver on his popular and commonsense agenda."
"No other President in history has accomplished more for the American people than President Trump, who is working tirelessly to create jobs, cool inflation, increase housing affordability, and more. The President has already made historic progress not only in America but around the world, and this is just the beginning as his agenda continues taking effect," he said.
The Marist poll surveyed 1,322 adults from April 27-30, 2026, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
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How Trump’s Approval Rating Changed Over Time
Trump’s approval in March stood at -19 points, with 57 percent disapproving and 38 percent approving of his job performance. In February, his approval was -17 points, with 39 percent approving and 56 percent disapproving, according to Marist polling.
In April 2025, Trump’s approval rating stood at -11 points. Fifty-three percent of Americans disapproved of him at that point, while 42 percent approved.
Trump’s approval rating was better when he retook office and enjoyed a honeymoon period. In March 2025, only 49 percent disapproved of him, compared to 45 percent who approved.
At a similar point in his first term—April 2018—Trump’s approval rating was -16 points, with 54 percent disapproving and 38 percent approving.
What Do Other Polls Show About Trump's Approval?
Trump’s approval rating has lagged in other recent polls.
A YouGov poll released Tuesday showed that 58 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump, compared to 36 percent who approve of him. It surveyed 1,573 adults from May 1-4, 2026, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.
A Forbes/HarrisX poll found that 41 percent of Americans approve of Trump, compared to 56 percent who disapprove. It surveyed 2,569 adults from April 29 to May 5, 2026, with a margin of error of plus or minus 1.93 percentage points.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 34 percent of Americans approve of Trump, while 54 percent disapprove of his job performance. It surveyed 1,269 Americans from April 24-27, 2026, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.
CNN data analyst Harry Enten issued a warning to Trump about his approval rating in an X post on Monday.
"Trump's absolutely collapsing with GOP leaning independents per WaPo & Pew polls. He got ~91% of their vote in 2024. Just 53% approve now. That 53% is down too from 73% approval he had with them in term 1 at this point. House GOP struggling too on 2026 House ballot with them," Enten wrote.
What Trump’s Approval Rating Means for Midterms
Historically, the party in the White House loses seats in the midterms, so Trump's poor approval rating could hamper the GOP's chances of holding onto its control of the Senate and House of Representatives.
In 2022, during former President Joe Biden's tenure, Republicans flipped nine House seats, winning the popular vote by about three points. In 2018, under Trump, Democrats won the popular vote by nearly 9 points and flipped 41 seats. In 2010, former President Barack Obama's first midterm, Republicans won the popular vote by nearly 7 points and flipped 62 seats.
A poor approval rating for Trump raises the chances of similar results this November.
Prediction markets already suggest Democrats are in a strong position to control the House of Representatives. Democrats have an 80 percent chance of victory in the House on Kalshi and an 83 percent chance on Polymarket. For the Senate, where Democrats face a more difficult map, Republicans have a 56 percent chance on Kalshi and a 51 percent chance on Polymarket of winning a majority.
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