President Donald Trump’s approval rating hit a second-term low of 39% among all adults in a new NBC News poll released June 14, marking a continued erosion of public support five months before the midterm elections.
The poll, conducted from May 29 to June 7 among 2,400 registered voters, found Trump’s approval at 42% among registered voters specifically—the lowest mark of his second term in NBC News surveys, according to the network’s reporting. That compares to 58% who disapprove of his job performance overall.
The approval decline reflects deepening skepticism among key voter groups. Among voters aged 18 to 29, 77% disapprove of Trump compared to 21% who approve, while 64% of Latino voters disapprove and 34% approve. Two-thirds of independent voters disapprove of his job as president. Even among Republicans, support has slipped: 82% approve, down from 88% in March.
Democrats are capitalizing on the president’s weak standing. The same NBC News poll found 49% of registered voters prefer Democrats control Congress following the 2026 elections, compared to 44% who prefer Republican control—a 5-point Democratic advantage. Independents lean toward Democrats by 12 points, 46% to 34%. This Democratic edge comes as they need to net just three House seats for a majority, though they face a steeper climb to gain four Senate seats.
Economic concerns and the Iran war have emerged as major drivers of Trump’s sagging numbers. A Forbes poll from June 9 found Trump’s approval on the economy slipped to 30%, while his rating on inflation stood at 22%. Multiple surveys from May showed voters overwhelmingly opposed Trump’s decision to go to war with Iran, with more than 60% saying he made the wrong choice. An Axios analysis in May noted that Trump’s failure to temper inflation and the fallout of the Iran war have turned voters against him.
The broader national mood reflects pessimism about America’s future. The NBC News poll found 56% of registered voters believe America’s best years are behind it, compared to 40% who believe the country’s best years are still ahead. Nearly 80% say the American Dream is harder to attain now than a generation ago.
Republican pollster Bill McInturff, who conducted the NBC survey, noted that while the numbers are challenging for Republicans, they are not catastrophic. He pointed out that Democrats held larger advantages in recent “blue wave” years like 2018. Still, Trump’s low approval rating continues to weigh on his party’s midterm prospects, particularly as voters voice growing confidence in neither the federal government nor Congress—just 18% have great confidence in the government and 11% in Congress.
Sources
- NBC News — Trump approval rating at 42% among registered voters and 39% among all adults; poll conducted May 29 to June 7; Democrats’ 5-point lead on generic ballot; voter disapproval among key demographics
- Forbes — Trump’s approval on economy at 30%, inflation approval at 22% as of June 9
- The New York Times — Majority of voters oppose Iran war decision
- Axios — Analysis of Trump’s economic polling decline and Iran war fallout
