President Trump’s approval rating is hovering near record lows across multiple national surveys released in early July 2026, reflecting sustained public discontent over his handling of the economy and foreign policy during his second term.
An Economist/YouGov poll conducted between July 3 and July 6 among 1,603 U.S. adults found 35 percent approving of Trump’s job performance and 61 percent disapproving, according to Newsweek. This gives him a net approval rating of minus 26—matching the lowest level recorded in that series in May 2026 and tying the lowest point seen across his two terms and Biden’s presidency.
A separate Focaldata poll conducted between June 26 and June 30 reinforces the broader pattern. The survey, based on 2,016 adults, puts Trump’s net approval at minus 23—an all-time low for that pollster. More notably, the share of Americans who disapprove of Trump has risen for four consecutive months, reaching 57 percent in the latest data.
Presidential approval ratings serve as one of the clearest indicators of political strength. When ratings settle at or near record lows across multiple polls, it signals not just short-term dissatisfaction but a broader erosion in public confidence. That pattern is particularly significant heading into the 2026 midterm elections, when sustained net-negative approval has historically been associated with electoral headwinds for the president’s party.
Economic Weakness and Cost of Living Concerns Drive Disapproval
Issue-by-issue polling reveals where Trump’s support is weakest. According to the Focaldata survey, housing is one of his poorest-performing areas, with just 22 percent approving of his handling of it—a net rating of minus 32. The same pattern holds across the broader economy: inflation and cost of living show 20 percent approval and 67 percent disapproval (minus 47), while jobs and the economy register 29 percent approval and 56 percent disapproval (minus 27).
Even on immigration and border security—long considered a strength for Trump—he is narrowly underwater, with 41 percent approval and 46 percent disapproval (minus 5). The breakdown shows a presidency facing broad-based weakness rather than a single point of failure, with the deepest deficits concentrated on economic and cost-of-living issues.
Trump’s approval on the economy has declined sharply throughout 2026. According to Forbes, his weekly approval rating hasn’t risen above 36 percent since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, after previously hovering at around 40 percent. The Iran war has driven inflation concerns, with energy costs surging and housing affordability worsening, compounding voter frustration with the administration’s economic stewardship.
The White House has rejected the polling as an incomplete picture. “No other President in history has accomplished more for the American people than President Trump, who is working tirelessly to create jobs, cool inflation, increase housing affordability, and more,” spokesman Davis Ingle told Newsweek, adding that the administration has made “historic progress.”
Trump’s approval ratings have been net negative for an extended period throughout his second term, with multiple polls placing him below 40 percent approval nationally. Earlier in 2026, Economist/YouGov surveys had already recorded net approval figures in the mid-to-high negative twenties, signaling historically poor performance for a modern president at this stage in office. The latest polling confirms the persistence of this trend and, in the Focaldata case, its gradual intensification over time.
Sources
- Newsweek — Reported the Economist/YouGov poll (July 3-6, 2026) showing 35% approval and 61% disapproval with net -26; Focaldata poll (June 26-30) with net -23; issue-by-issue breakdown of economic, immigration, and housing approval ratings; White House statement from spokesman Davis Ingle.
- Forbes — Documented Trump’s weekly approval rating remaining below 36% since February 28, 2026, Iran war attack, and decline in economic approval from 38% to 33% by June.
- Reuters — Reported Trump’s approval sinking to record lows amid Iran war and cost-of-living concerns in April 2026.
- The Hill — Confirmed Trump’s net approval hitting lowest point amid Iran war and high prices.
