By Martha McHardyShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberPresident Donald Trump's approval rating has plunged to a record low for his second term, according to pollster Nate Silver.
Silver's tracker shows that Trump's net approval stands at -14 points, with 42 percent approving and 56 percent disapproving.
Why It Matters
Declining approval ratings signal potential vulnerability for the president and his party heading into 2026 and the midterms, raising questions about whether the coalition that powered his 2024 comeback is beginning to fracture.
...What To Know
Trump's approval ratings have been in decline since the government shutdown began on October 1.
Since then, Trump's popularity has plummeted to an all-time low in several polls. For example, the latest AP-NORC poll put his net approval rating at -26 points, while the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll put his approval rating at -22 points.
Even pollsters such as RMG Research, that usually show Trump above water, have begun to show net negative results for Trump. The latest poll put his net approval rating at -1 points.
Trump's approval rating also hit an all-time low in Newsweek's tracker of -14 points, with 42 percent approving and 56 percent disapproving.
Earlier this month, Silver warned that Trump's dwindling popularity may now be a permanent fixture of his second term. "Donald Trump’s heightened unpopularity might be here to stay," Silver wrote.
In his latest blog post, he repeated that prediction. "In their second terms, presidents have lost a median of about 5 points of net approval every 100 days, and so far, Trump’s decline is right on trend.
"Does that mean Trump’s approval rating is destined for a continuous downward spiral? Not necessarily. But second terms are tough, and a lame duck president is going to have a harder time weathering the same storms Trump 1.0 flew through easily," he wrote.
Trump has also seen his approval ratings take a hit over his handling of the economy. A new Fox News survey shows public confidence in President Trump’s economic stewardship has slipped to its lowest point of his second term. In a stark shift from his first tenure—when just 21 percent of voters in 2018 said his policies had hurt them—respondents now say by a wide 31-point margin that Trump’s current agenda has made their financial situation worse.
The poll also indicates that more Americans are pinning the state of the economy on Trump himself, even as he continues to argue that inflation is the result of former President Joe Biden’s earlier actions. Nearly twice as many voters say Trump is more responsible for current conditions than Biden (62 percent to 32 percent).
While Democrats overwhelmingly point the finger at Trump, the survey reveals notable erosion within his own party: 42 percent of Republicans say Trump carries greater blame, even though a narrow GOP majority still faults Biden. Independents, by a similar 62 percent share, also attribute responsibility to Trump.
These perceptions come as economic pressures remain central to voters’ daily lives. The average price of a new vehicle has climbed above $50,000, turning what was once a routine purchase into a financial stretch for many households. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that grocery costs continue to rise, with food-at-home prices up roughly 2.7 percent in the year through September.
"Most voters mostly want things to work. They want to be able to buy gas and groceries, take care of their families, and know their children will have a chance at a good future. When things aren't working, they blame the people in charge.
"Increasing numbers of people think things aren't working and have no chance of getting better soon. President Trump is in charge, so increasing numbers of voters blame President Trump," Peter Loge, director of the Project on Ethics in Political Communication at George Washington University, told Newsweek.
What Happens Next
Trump's approval rating is trending downwards, according to Silver, and could continue to do so throughout his second term.
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