President Donald Trump's approval rating has dropped to 37% in a new Wall Street Journal poll, the lowest of his second term and just slightly above his all-time low of 34% at the end of his first term. This decline represents a 10 percentage point fall among U.S. adults since he began his second term in January, and a significant 17-point decrease among independents, reaching 29%, which matches his previous lowest point with this demographic.
This diminished approval rating places Trump at the lower end of historical presidential popularity heading into midterm elections, according to Journal polls dating back to 1990. While his Republican base remains largely supportive, the national approval rating is now net negative by 7-10 points, depending on the specific poll. This sentiment is seen as a potential challenge for Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections, as an unpopular president can create a more difficult national environment for candidates from the governing party.
Despite this overall decline, some other polls, like a WSJ poll conducted in July, had previously indicated a degree of resilience in Trump's approval, with 46% approval and 52% disapproval, attributed to improving views of the economy. However, the more recent data from late July 2025 and September 2026 suggest a consistent downward trend, particularly among independent voters, signaling a broader and more firmly held opposition to his presidency.
