President Donald Trump’s net approval rating has hit -24% in a new Economist/YouGov poll, marking one of the lowest points of his presidency and approaching the worst net approval he has recorded in either of his terms. The poll, conducted July 17-20 with 1,602 respondents, found just 36% of Americans approve of Trump’s job performance, while 64% disapprove, according to USA Today reporting on the July 21 release.
The -24% net approval sits only 2 percentage points above Trump’s worst net approval rating across his two terms and is now lower than former President Joe Biden’s worst net approval of -23%, marking a significant threshold in presidential unpopularity. According to YouGov data, Trump’s net approval has averaged -24 over recent polls, a record low for his presidency.
The president’s unpopularity stems from multiple sources. The economy remains a major drag on his approval, with 47% of poll respondents saying the U.S. economy is in poor condition—the highest level recorded in Economist/YouGov polls since 2023. Trump’s handling of immigration, typically his strongest issue with voters, has also eroded, with 54% disapproving of his approach to the issue, according to the same poll. The Iran war and rising prices have compounded economic concerns, with many voters citing cost-of-living pressures as their top worry.
Age has emerged as another vulnerability. In the latest poll, 52% of respondents said Trump is too old to be president, an increase of 12 percentage points from January. This shift reflects broader voter concerns about his fitness for office as the midterm elections approach in November.
Trump’s continued unpopularity could reshape the 2026 midterm landscape. The same Economist/YouGov poll showed Democrats leading Republicans by 5 percentage points on a generic congressional ballot, a trend supported by other recent surveys. An Ipsos/Washington Post poll released July 16 found Democrats leading by 3 points, while a CNBC poll from July 17 showed a 4-point Democratic advantage. Historically, a sitting president’s approval rating serves as a strong predictor of his party’s midterm performance, suggesting Republicans face headwinds as November approaches.
Across multiple polling aggregators, Trump’s approval remains deeply underwater. RealClearPolitics reported 41.2% approval and 55.6% disapproval as of July 21. The New York Times tracker showed 39% approve and 58% disapprove, while Nate Silver’s bulletin put approval at 39.3% and disapproval at 57.7%, all reflecting sustained weakness in public confidence in the president’s leadership.
Sources
- USA Today — reported the Economist/YouGov poll showing -24% net approval, 36% approval, and 64% disapproval; poll conducted July 17-20 with 1,602 respondents; included data on age concerns (52% say Trump too old, up 12 points from January), economy (47% say poor state), immigration (54% disapprove), and Democratic lead on generic ballot (5 points)
- YouGov — Economist/YouGov polling showing -24 average net approval as record low; provided breakdown of disapproval on economy and other issues
- The Hill — reported Trump’s net approval at record low amid Iran war and inflation concerns
- Financial Post — cited Reuters/Ipsos poll showing 73% disapprove of Trump’s handling of cost of living
- Time Magazine — reported Trump’s approval at 37% (second-term low) amid Iran war concerns
- NPR — reported Democrats gaining midterm edge as Trump approval drops
- Brookings Institution — analyzed GOP midterm prospects darkening as Trump approval falls
