Brutal Poll: Trump Approval Hits New Low

Absentee ballot envelope with I Voted sticker on dark surface — Photo: Steve Heap / Shutterstock

President Trump’s job approval has fallen to 31% in a major national poll, the lowest of his presidency according to the survey’s own trend.

Story Highlights

An Associated Press–NORC poll finds 31% approve and 69% disapprove of Trump’s job performance, a new low in the series.
Only 26% approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, and 17% approve his handling of the cost of living, per the same polling cycle.
The survey was conducted September 24–28 among U.S. adults, ahead of the 2026 midterms.
AP–NORC trend data shows Trump’s approval sliding through 2026 after steadier readings earlier in his term.

Record-Low Approval In AP–NORC Series

The Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reported that 31% of adults approve of how President Trump is handling his job, while 69% disapprove. The group called it a new low in its series, which tracks results across both of Trump’s terms. The same polling cycle shows deep concern about prices and living costs. The findings land weeks before midterm voting, adding pressure on a White House that has focused on growth, energy, and border policy.

According to the poll’s related reporting, just 26% approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, and 17% approve of his handling of the cost of living. Those numbers suggest pocketbook pain is driving views. High prices strain families who feel wages do not keep up with bills. That hits renters, drivers, and seniors buying food and medicine. When budgets crack, voters often punish whoever runs Washington, regardless of party promises or culture-war wins.

Methodology And Timing Ahead Of Midterms

The published accounts say AP–NORC surveyed U.S. adults from September 24 to 28, using a national sample that the outlet has cited consistently in 2026 coverage. The timing matters. Midterms turn on turnout and mood. When a president’s approval is in the low 30s, party candidates often run away from the national brand. That pattern is not new. Voters on the right and left both say Washington talks big, spends more, and still misses the basic job of easing daily costs.

Polarization holds approval to a narrow band, but 31% is below Trump’s earlier second-term levels that hovered near 40% in some AP–NORC snapshots. The drift downward appears steady rather than a one-off shock. That points to a grinding cost-of-living story more than any single headline. Many conservatives blame past spending and green mandates for high energy prices. Many liberals blame tax cuts, deregulation, and a tilt toward fossil fuels. Most agree the system keeps failing households.

Economic Perceptions Driving The Slide

AP–NORC’s companion reporting ties Trump’s weakest readings to views on inflation and the economy, where approval on overall economic handling is 26% and approval on cost of living is 17%. Those are punishing numbers. Gas, groceries, rents, and insurance shape daily life more than stock charts. When people feel squeezed, they turn cynical about leaders, parties, and the so-called elites. That feeds the belief that Washington looks out for itself before it fixes broken basics.

15 sec Polls update: 🇺🇸 For U.S. Readers Who Want Info.

Current as at October 1st 2026
🇺🇸 TRUMP'S APPROVAL RATINGS U.S. WIDE
By: State – Age – Education – Gender – Party – Race

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🇺🇸 TRUMP HITS MID TERM CAMPAIGN… pic.twitter.com/H9gdPad9nP

— Results (@ResultsOOO) October 2, 2026

Trend summaries from The Associated Press indicate Trump’s approval was steadier earlier in his second term, then slid in 2026 as price fatigue lingered. That mirrors a modern pattern: presidents face hard ceilings in a divided country, and bad economic vibes bite deeper than raw growth data. For Republicans, the risk is a midterm drag. For Democrats, opportunity depends on offering credible fixes, not just attacks. For voters, the message is simple: results beat rhetoric, every time.