President Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen to a record low for his second term, according to recent national polling [1].
The decline suggests a growing disconnect between the administration and the American electorate. This shift in public sentiment may limit the president's ability to pass legislative priorities as support within his own party wavers.
An Economist/YouGov poll, analyzed by Nate Silver and reported earlier this month, found that Trump's approval rating registered at 38.2% [1]. The same data indicated a disapproval rating of 58.8% [1]. This results in a net approval rating of -20.6% [1].
The poll was released on July 30, 2026, and reported on August 11 [2]. The figures represent the lowest point of public support for the president since the start of his second term [2].
Analysts said several factors are driving the historic decline. Ongoing economic concerns and high inflation have weighed heavily on public perception [3]. Additionally, reports indicate that support from the GOP is waning, leaving the president with a narrower base of political capital [4].
While the administration has previously navigated periods of low popularity, the current net-negative rating reflects a broad trend of dissatisfaction across various demographics [1]. The combination of economic instability and shifting party loyalty has created a challenging environment for the White House as it enters the latter part of the year [3].
“Trump's approval rating registered at 38.2%”
A net-negative approval rating of over 20 percentage points typically signals a weakened executive position. When a president loses significant support from their own party base alongside the general public, it often leads to increased friction with congressional allies and a diminished mandate to implement sweeping policy changes.
