Trump Faced Negative Ratings in Economic Hub States
President Donald Trump has logged negative net approval ratings in eight states targeted for major new economic projects.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Economic Indicators
Live Poll
Do major government economic investments change your approval of the president?
President Donald Trump currently holds negative net approval ratings in Texas, Tennessee, Iowa, Alaska, Minnesota, Ohio, South Carolina, and Kentucky. These polling figures coincide with the administration's rollout of large-scale industrial investments across those same regions.
Why it matters
The administration is using strategic investment packages to drive economic development in regions where the president currently faces political headwinds. These projects represent a significant effort to boost growth in areas critical to the national political landscape.
Civiqs data tracked 134,051 registered voter responses between January 2025 and October 2026. Current net approval stands at minus 2 percentage points in Tennessee and minus 36 in Minnesota.
The players
Donald Trump
Donald Trump serves as the current President of the United States.
The details
The administration announced a $200 billion strategic investment package with South Korea that supports various projects, including a $15 billion steel plant in Iowa and a $22.3 billion gas-fired power plant in Texas. Other initiatives include eight proposed nuclear power plants and a $54 billion LNG project in Alaska, with the Iowa facility expected to create 1,750 permanent jobs.
Timeline
January 20, 2025, to October 3, 2026: Civiqs data collection period.
Late August 2026: Trump's net approval rating turned negative in Tennessee.
October 2026: Presidential approval ratings published by Newsweek.
November 2026: U.S. midterm elections scheduled.
Macro View
The administration's current $200 billion investment package follows the pattern set by the Inflation Reduction Act's investment provisions in tying industrial growth to federal policy goals.
These infrastructure projects may eventually impact local job markets through the creation of thousands of permanent positions in the energy and steel sectors. Residents in these states may see shifts in regional economic activity as the planned power plants and manufacturing sites move toward construction.
The takeaway
While the administration pushes major capital projects to stimulate regional economies, the political efficacy of these investments remains a key question ahead of upcoming elections. Voters in these states will likely weigh these promised industrial jobs against the president's current polling standing.
What happens next
The U.S. midterm elections are scheduled to take place in November 2026, which may serve as a referendum on current administrative policy.
Further reading
For more context on national financial trends, visit the Economic Indicators section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Newsweek.
Live Poll
Do major government economic investments change your approval of the president?
