President Donald Trump’s approval rating has turned sharply negative across the country, with a new YouGov/Economist projection showing his net job approval is underwater in 47 states and Washington, D.C., according to polling released Thursday. Only three states—Wyoming, Idaho, and West Virginia—show majority approval of Trump’s performance.
According to the projection, Wyoming leads with a net approval of +14, followed by Idaho at +9 and West Virginia at +6. All three voted for Trump in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential elections. The District of Columbia shows Trump’s lowest rating at -83, while Maryland and Vermont both register -50.
Trump’s state-level struggles reflect his record-low national approval numbers. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on August 17 found only 33 percent of Americans approve of his job performance, the lowest rating in that pollster’s tracking since his return to the White House in January 2025. Other major polling averages on August 21 showed approval ranging from 37 to 39 percent, with disapproval consistently above 57 percent.
The president’s underwater approval in nearly all states comes as voters express deep concern about his handling of foreign policy. In an August 17 poll, 80 percent of Americans—including 87 percent of Democrats and 71 percent of Republicans—said they believed U.S. involvement with Iran would continue for an extended period. Trump’s approval rating specifically on handling the Iran conflict stands at just 28 percent, according to an AP-NORC poll from July 30.
Analysis from the Brookings Institution suggests the Iran war has accelerated Trump’s approval decline throughout his second term. The conflict, which began in early 2026, has eroded support even among Republicans—approval of Trump’s handling of Iran fell from 71 percent to 61 percent among GOP voters between June and August.
Trump’s state-level approval weakness extends to battleground states critical for the 2026 midterm elections. Trump endorsed candidates have already faced setbacks in recent primaries, and his underwater approval in swing states suggests mounting challenges for Republican candidates seeking his endorsement. The recent approval decline marks a continuation of downward pressure on Trump’s standing since midsummer.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the state-level polling data.
Sources
- USA TODAY — State-by-state approval projection from YouGov/Economist showing 47 states underwater, national polling averages, and August 17 poll on Iran war concerns
- Reuters/Ipsos — August 17 poll showing 33% national approval, lowest in their tracking since Trump’s second term began
- AP-NORC — July 30 poll showing 28% approval on handling Iran
- Brookings Institution — Analysis of Iran war’s impact on Trump’s approval trajectory
- Forbes — August 18 reporting on Trump’s approval decline and voter expectations on Iran
