...
By Sam Stevenson
Associate News Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
President Donald Trump’s disapproval rating has reached its highest level of his second term, according to new polling conducted as the 2026 midterms edge closer.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told Newsweek in an emailed statement, "The ultimate poll was November 5, 2024, when nearly 80 million Americans overwhelmingly elected President Trump to deliver on his popular and commonsense agenda."
Why It Matters
The new numbers come as the White House navigates the political fallout from the war with Iran while lawmakers in both parties begin to focus on the 2026 midterm elections.
Read More on News
Sustained voter dissatisfaction could complicate efforts to defend vulnerable seats, particularly in closely divided districts.
...
What To Know
A new national survey from Big Data Poll shows Trump posting his worst net approval numbers of his second term so far, driven by rising disapproval rather than a collapse in core support.
In March, Trump’s job approval rating stood at 42.3 percent, while 55.7 percent of voters said they disapproved of his performance, according to the data.
The resulting negative spread of 13.4 percentage points marks both the highest disapproval level and the widest net approval gap recorded during his current tenure, according to the poll.
The findings are drawn from the Public Polling Project conducted by Big Data Poll, which surveyed 3,003 registered voters nationwide between March 22 and March 24, 2026.
The poll carries an overall margin of error of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.
Interviews were conducted online through Lucid (CINT) as well as via live‑agent phone calls, including peer‑to‑peer SMS and text‑to‑online methods sourced from the L2 National Voter File Database. Results were weighted by sex, age, race and ethnicity, education, and geography to better reflect the national electorate.
While the topline numbers reflect growing dissatisfaction, the White House has argued that broader approval figures mask continued strength among the president’s base.
Administration officials have repeatedly pointed to strong MAGA and Republican backing for Trump’s decision to launch Operation Epic Fury, as well as polling showing solid support for U.S. military action in Iran among those voters.
Some analysts, such as Brett Loyd, a polling and research specialist for the Independent Center, said the deeper warning signs lie not with partisan voters, but with an electorate that appears increasingly disengaged, arguing that said the data suggests frustration without clear political realignment.
“Even with the governing party taking heat for everything from gas prices to airport lines, independent voters aren't tripping over each other to go support the opposition,” Loyd told Newsweek.
“It signals a tired electorate that feels they have no one to turn to, regardless of how bad things get. Which isn't awesome for our democracy considering this is the largest voting bloc in the U.S.”
What Polling Trackers Say
Polling averages broadly reflect the same pattern, though the margins vary across outlets.
RealClear Polling’s average put Trump at 41.2 percent approval and 56.6 percent disapproval at the time of writing, for a net rating of minus 15.4.
CNN’s poll‑of‑polls showed a steeper gap, with 38 percent approval compared with 60 percent disapproval, producing a net rating of minus 22.
The New York Times polling average placed Trump at 40 percent approval and 56 percent disapproval, resulting in a net rating of minus 16.
What People Are Saying
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told Newsweek in an emailed statement: "The president has already made historic progress not only in America, but around the world. It is not surprising that President Trump remains the most dominant figure in American politics."
A White House official previously told Newsweek: "Polling shows President Trump's decision to launch Operation Epic Fury has Americans' support—with MAGA and Republicans strongly supporting it. Despite some online commentators with large followings publicly disagreeing with the president's decision—and many legacy media outlets eagerly highlighting their comments to try and sow division—the MAGA base is not wavering one bit."
President Donald Trump said last week: "When this is over, oil prices are going to go down very, very rapidly. So is inflation. So is everything else. But frankly, much more important than short-term or even long-term oil prices: You cannot let the most violent, vicious country in the last 50 years have a nuclear weapon."
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Bridget Gonzalez told Newsweek in an emailed statement: “On every issue, and with every major voting bloc, Republicans are failing. Voters don't agree with their lawless immigration enforcement tactics and are done listening to their broken promises.”
What Happens Next
As the Iran conflict continues and Congress heads deeper into an election year, future polling will test whether voter frustration hardens into electoral momentum for either party, or remains a sign of broader disengagement.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines