Donald Trump Recorded Highest Disapproval Rating
The president has reached record-low approval levels amid economic pressures and ongoing international conflict.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Politics — General
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President Donald Trump has reached his highest disapproval rating in a record-breaking shift for his second term. Polling data shows his disapproval gap hitting new lows, surpassing previous peaks set during both his first term and the presidency of Joe Biden.
Why it matters
The administration faces mounting challenges that have eroded support, including high inflation, new tariffs, and a war with Iran. The administration is also grappling with cooling favorability among Christian voters and fallout from the Epstein Files scandal.
RealClear Polling data recorded a -21.2% disapproval gap for President Trump, while Nate Silver reported a -22.4% gap, with 59.9% of Americans expressing disapproval. These figures represent the lowest public approval levels for the administration since the term went underwater in March 2025.
The players
Donald Trump
Donald Trump is the current President of the United States.
Joe Biden
Joe Biden is the former President of the United States.
Nate Silver
Nate Silver is a statistician and political analyst known for tracking survey averages.
The details
Recent surveys indicate a broad decline in popularity across key demographics, compounded by ongoing military involvement in Iran and domestic economic strain. These metrics now eclipse the previous records for presidential disapproval observed in late 2017.
Timeline
December 13, 2017: President Trump's previous record disapproval gap of -21.1 percent was set.
July 20, 2022: President Joe Biden reached his lowest approval gap of -20.3 percent.
March 2025: President Trump's second term approval rating went underwater.
September 26-28, 2026: President Trump's current record disapproval gap was observed.
November 3, 2026: The scheduled date for the midterm elections.
Political Context
This decline mirrors the historical volatility seen in presidential polling, following the precedent set by the 2017 presidential approval record. These trends suggest a tightening electoral environment as the country approaches the 2026 midterm cycle.
The current polling climate suggests a significant shift in legislative power as the Democratic party maintains a lead in generic congressional ballot polling. Voters may see intensified campaign activity and policy debates as the November 2026 midterms approach.
The takeaway
Public sentiment regarding the administration has reached a critical inflection point as economic and international issues intersect. Voters should monitor policy shifts and campaign rhetoric closely leading up to the upcoming November elections.
Further reading
For more on the national political landscape, visit Politics — General.
Source note: This article includes information reported by FITSNews.
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