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By Martha McHardy
US News Reporter
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President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to a new low, sinking into double-digit negative territory for the first time this term, according to RealClearPolling’s national average.
His net approval dropped from –9.1 to –11.2 overnight, marking a steep decline in public support.
Why It Matters
The sharp decline in President Trump’s approval rating underscores growing public unease with his administration.
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Historically, falling approval numbers have weakened presidents’ ability to advance their agendas and posed major challenges for their parties in midterm elections.
With key economic indicators faltering and a government shutdown already straining public confidence, Trump’s slump could further endanger Republican prospects in 2026—particularly as Democrats seek to capitalize on voter fatigue and independent discontent.
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What To Know
It comes after Trump's approval rating hit a previous new low earlier this week of -8.9 percentage points in the RealClearPolling tracker.
Trump's approval rating also hit a new low in Newsweek's tracker this week, reaching -13 points, with 55 percent disapproving and 42 percent approving.
Trump's sinking approval ratings coincide with the current government shutdown becoming the longest one in history this week, as it passed the 36-day mark on Wednesday.
The president's ratings initially appeared unaffected by the shutdown, but as it has entered its second month, polls have suggested that discontent is growing.
Surveys by Quinnipiac University (-14), YouGov/The Economist (-19), Ipsos/Reuters (-17), and Navigator Research (-16) all found widespread disapproval, while typically friendlier pollsters such as Rasmussen Reports (-8) and RMG Research (-1) also showed him underwater.
Voters also appear especially unhappy with Trump’s handling of the shutdown itself. A new YouGov/The Economist poll from November 2 found that 58 percent disapprove of his approach—up five points since early October.
The prolonged federal shutdown has severely disrupted access to food assistance for millions of Americans, deepening public frustration with Trump’s administration.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced last week that it would rely on a $4.65 billion emergency fund to keep the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) afloat, but benefits were reduced to about half their normal levels for roughly 42 million recipients. Officials later revised that figure, saying most households would receive around 65 percent of their usual payments in November.
The administration argued it lacked the resources to continue full funding for the program and warned that payments could stop entirely if Congress failed to pass new spending legislation. That stance was rejected by two federal judges, who ruled on Friday that withholding SNAP benefits violated federal law and ordered the government to resume payments immediately.
Despite the ruling, Trump defended his position on Truth Social, writing, “SNAP benefits…will be given only when the radical left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before.” The White House later clarified his remarks, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that the administration was complying with the court’s order but that the president “does not want to have to tap into this fund in the future.”
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has accused Trump and the GOP of attempting to “weaponise hunger” to pressure political rivals into accepting their funding proposals.
Meanwhile, 750,000 federal workers have been furloughed, leaving them without pay. US troops, federal law enforcement agents and immigration officers are still being paid.
Politico reported Thursday that, in its latest proposal to Democrats, Republicans suggested partially reversing some of the staff dismissals carried out during the shutdown.
What Happens Next
Meanwhile, the shutdown continues as lawmakers attempt to reach a solution to open the government.
Another vote to end the shutdown is scheduled for Friday. "My hopes and expectations are always that we're going to have enough Democrats to actually proceed, but I don't know, we'll see," Senate Majority Leader John Thune said, according to CBS News. "They seem to be walking back or slow-walking this, and it's what they asked for."
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