With the November midterms approaching, President Donald Trump has hit a new low in his approval ratings, according to the latest survey from the Wall Street Journal. At 37%, this is the lowest support level for any incumbent heading into a midterm contest since the outlet began tracking data in 1990.
Economic dissatisfaction remains a significant factor in these figures. Among those surveyed, 65% believe the national economy is struggling, while 60% hold the view that the President’s current policies have actively worsened economic conditions. The poll was conducted between September 16 and 21, surveying 1,500 registered voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
Historical data indicates this trend is increasingly unfavorable. Previously, the lowest recorded mark for a president at this stage was George W. Bush, who held a 39% approval rating ahead of the 2006 midterms. During that cycle, public frustration over the Iraq war led to the Democratic Party picking up 31 seats in the House and five in the Senate, securing control of both chambers. Today, as public skepticism grows regarding the conflict in Iran, Democrats are currently showing leads between five and 11 percentage points in various surveys regarding Congressional control. Trump’s lower approval rating comes as Americans continue to express deep disapproval of the economy and the president’s role in it. Amid a deeply unpopular war in Iraq, Democrats gained five seats in the Senate and 31 in the House of Representatives, in that year’s midterms. That gave them control of both chambers of Congress for the first time in a decade. Polls show that many Americans are critical of the war in Iran, twenty years later. Major polling averages continue to place Trump in negative territory overall, while individual polls vary.
Polling Averages as of September 28
- RealClearPolitics: 38.7% approve, 59.9% disapprove
- New York Times: 37% approve, 60% disapprove
- Silver Bulletin: 37.4% approve, 60.1% disapprove
Important Details
- Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
