President Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 38%, marking a new low for his second term, according to polling averages from The New York Times and other major surveys as of early August 2026.
Trump began his second term in January 2025 with an approval rating around 47 to 52%, according to multiple sources including Emerson College Polling and The New York Times. The steady decline over 18 months represents a significant erosion of public support, with his net approval rating now deeply negative at -20.6, according to analyst Nate Silver.
Economic dissatisfaction is the primary driver of the decline. Inflation and cost of living have emerged as the top concerns for voters, and Trump’s handling of these issues faces particular criticism. The Economist’s tracker shows his net approval rating on inflation stands at -43, the lowest of his term. A Marquette Law School poll from August found that inflation and cost of living were the most important issues for voters, and Trump’s economic approval has fallen to historic lows.
Beyond the economy, Trump’s approval has been weighed down by public disapproval of his handling of the Iran war and associated gas price increases. A May 2026 Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 61% of respondents actively disapproved of the war, a jump of 18 percentage points from earlier polling. Rural voters, traditionally a source of Trump support, have also shifted, with approval among rural Americans dropping to 50% by July 2026, down from 60% in February 2025.
The decline has been consistent across multiple polling firms. A Reuters/Ipsos survey from August 3 showed Trump’s approval at 35%, while a Quinnipiac University poll released July 29 recorded an all-time low of 32% across both his terms. The New York Times’ daily polling average placed him at 38% approval and 59% disapproval as of August 3, with his disapproval rating approaching 62% in some trackers.
Brookings Institution research from January 2026 found that public frustration with high prices and economic pessimism drove a sharp decline in Trump’s approval during 2025, overshadowing stronger performance on other policy areas. Trump’s approval on the economy specifically fell to 31% in an April 2026 SSRS poll, and has remained depressed throughout the summer.
Trump’s current approval stands well below historical norms for a president at this stage of a term. According to Pew Research Center analysis from August 6, his 38% approval rating is comparable to but modestly lower than President Joe Biden’s 37% at a similar point in his tenure. The comparison underscores how unusual Trump’s second-term trajectory has been, moving from an initial post-election bump to sustained weakness.
Sources
- The New York Times — Trump approval rating at 38% with 59% disapproval as of August 3, 2026
- Clarion Ledger — New York Times polling average showing 38% approval and 59% disapproval as of August 3
- USA Today — Trump’s approval rating at 38-39% on average as of August 7
- Marquette Law School Poll — July 2026 poll showing 40% approval; May poll showing 38% approval; inflation and cost of living identified as most important issues
- Nate Silver — Net approval rating at -20.6 as of August 7, 2026
- The Economist — Net approval rating at -25; net approval on inflation at -43
- Emerson College Polling — Trump started second term with 49% approval in January 2025
- Reuters/Ipsos — August 3 poll showing 35% approval; May poll showing 61% disapprove of Iran war handling
- Quinnipiac University — July 29 poll showing 32% all-time low approval
- Brookings Institution — Economic frustration and high prices drove approval decline in 2025
- SSRS — April 2026 poll showing 31% approval on economy handling
- Pew Research Center — August 6 analysis comparing Trump’s 38% to Biden’s 37% at similar point in term
