WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s approval ratings have taken a noticeable hit according to a new AP-NORC poll, which signals potential trouble as his party gears up for the 2026 midterms.
Only 31% of U.S. adults now approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, a dip from 40% in March, marking one of the lowest economic approvals registered during his presidency. Furthermore, Trump is witnessing a fall in approval on other key issues as well, including immigration and crime, which previously were considered strengths for him.
Notably, his handling of crime has seen a decrease in support, falling from 53% to 43%, and immigration approval dropped from 49% to 38% since March.
As concerns grow over economic management, even among Republicans, only 69% express approval for Trump’s economic strategies, down from 78%. Feedback from constituents such as Larry Reynolds, a 74-year-old Republican from Ohio, suggests worries over rising import duties and inflation lingering from the pandemic.
Although Trump still retains a base of support, his overall approval rating dipped slightly to 36%, down from 42% earlier in the year. This suggests that while some Americans are dissatisfied with aspects of his policies, they are not yet prepared to label his presidency as a failure.
Trump’s ratings concerning immigration show a similar narrative — his approval on border security remains relatively strong at 50%. This approval rating appears to be buoyed by independent voters who seem to back him more on security rather than immigration policy.
The poll outlines the pressing need for the Trump administration to strategize effectively to address these declining trends as midterms approach, particularly as his governing actions are increasingly coming under scrutiny from constituents across party lines.
Conducted December 4-8, the AP-NORC poll included 1,146 adults and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
