Trump Approval Sinks to 40% in NBC Poll
NBC News polling shows Democrats positioned to contend for control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Economic Indicators
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NBC News polling shows President Trump with a 40 percent approval rating and a 60 percent disapproval rating. Democrats are polling as likely to retake the House and Senate in the midterm elections.
Why it matters
The figures mark a notable drop from Trump's first midterm baseline in 2018, when his net approval was negative but less so than now. The polling points to potential shifts in congressional control and a record level of political advertising spending.
NBC polling puts Trump's economic approval at 26 percent, down from 68 percent of surveyed voters in 2018. Record political ad spending reached $11.6 billion for the 2025-26 cycle as of October 30, while 36 states will elect governors.
The players
NBC News
NBC News is the national news division of the NBC broadcast network, whose polling is cited in this story.
Steve Kornacki
Steve Kornacki is NBC News' chief data analyst and a prominent television political analyst known for his election data presentations.
The details
NBC News chief data analyst Steve Kornacki presented the polling data on Meet the Press, comparing current figures with those from Trump's first midterm in 2018. Nearly 70 percent of voters on the eve of that 2018 midterm were satisfied with the economy, while the Democratic Party is currently 29 percent favorable in NBC polling.
Timeline
2018: Trump's first midterm, when economic approval stood at 68 percent.
October 30: Record $11.6 billion in political ad spending tallied for the cycle.
November 2: Meet the Press polling data presented one day before Election Day.
November 3: Midterm Election Day, with House, Senate and governor races.
Economic Indicators
Current polling on economic approval is measured against Trump's 2018 midterm baseline, when 68 percent of surveyed voters approved of his handling of the economy. The sharp drop to 26 percent now marks a departure from that earlier benchmark.
Voters' views on the economy are a central factor in midterm outcomes, and the drop in economic approval reflects how public sentiment could shape which party controls Congress. Readers should watch the November 3 midterm results for House, Senate and governor races across 36 states.
The takeaway
Public assessments of the economy have shifted substantially since 2018, and that shift is central to the midterm outlook. Watching how these views translate into votes will show whether the trend holds through Election Day.
Further reading
Explore more on Economic Indicators for context on how public sentiment tracks with national economic conditions.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Independent.
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