As the second year of his second term begins, President Donald Trump is seeing a sharp decline in public support in Washington. Since his honeymoon period shortly after his inauguration in January 2025, data tracking the president's standing in several key national polls has been steadily declining.
Current Situation and Pattern 2025: Thanks to a strong Republican base and cautious optimism from some independent candidates, Trump began his term with an approval rating of around 47%.
Winter Low November 2025-January 2026: The rating has fallen to a second-term low of 36%, according to some individual polls, with the overall rating now below 40%.
Demographic changes: The two main groups responsible for the decline in support are independents and soft Republicans, according to a CNN poll conducted by SSRS.
Analysts see the 18-point drop among Republicans as particularly significant. “The ‘ultra-loyal’ line is showing cracks for the first time since the 2024 election, though the base remains largely supportive,” said a senior data reporter.
Economy: In a recent poll, 55% of Americans said the Trump administration has made the economy “worse” despite claims of growth due to ongoing inflation and trade tensions.
Executive reach: Most voters now worry that the administration has “overstepped” its executive authority, especially when it comes to border management and restructuring federal agencies.
Midterm election predictions:
These numbers are posing problems for Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections. A president with an approval rating below 40% has historically lost a lot of votes in Congress. According to general election polls, Democrats currently lead Republicans among likely voters.