President Donald Trump's approval rating dropped to a record low of 31% in an October 19, 2026 Reuters/Ipsos poll, driven by public frustration over high gasoline prices following military strikes on Iran in February 2026. Heading into the November 3 congressional elections, Democrats established a 12-point generic ballot lead over Republicans, propelled largely by female voters. Major polling averages reflect a broad public disapproval of Trump's economic management.
Donald Trump approval rating poll results
- ▪As of October 19, 2026, broader polling averages showed Donald Trump's approval rating at 38.9% on RealClearPolitics, 37% on The New York Times, and 37.5% on Silver Bulletin
- ▪In a Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll released on October 18, 2026, Donald Trump's approval rating reached a pollster record low of 33%
- ▪In a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on October 19, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump's job approval rating fell to a record career low of 31%
- ▪An NBC News/SurveyMonkey poll released on October 18, 2026 showed Donald Trump's approval rating at a second-term low of 34%, with 71% saying the country was on the wrong track
Democratic leads in generic congressional polling
- ▪An NBC News/SurveyMonkey poll released on October 18, 2026 showed Democrats holding a 10-point generic congressional ballot lead over Republicans ahead of the November 3, 2026 midterms
- ▪In the October 19, 2026 Reuters/Ipsos poll, registered voters backed Democratic congressional candidates over Republicans by 47% to 35%, establishing a 12-point advantage
Impact of Iran military conflict on economic ratings
- ▪President Donald Trump ordered military strikes on Iran alongside Israel in February 2026, launching a war that triggered a surge in gasoline prices
- ▪Rising fuel prices and economic knock-on effects from the U.S.-Israel military conflict with Iran contributed to a steady decline in Donald Trump's public approval ratings
Voter dissatisfaction with the economy
- ▪Voters in the October 19, 2026 Reuters/Ipsos poll picked Democrats over Republicans as better stewards of the economy by a 40% to 33% margin
- ▪In a Washington Post/ABC/Ipsos poll released on October 18, 2026, 7 out of 10 respondents stated that gasoline was becoming unaffordable
- ▪In the October 19, 2026 Reuters/Ipsos poll, 68% of Americans disapproved of Donald Trump's handling of the economy, including 37% of self-identified Republicans
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