WASHINGTON (AP) — A new AP-NORC poll has highlighted a substantial decline in President Donald Trump’s approval ratings on key issues such as the economy and immigration. As the landscape shifts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, these declining ratings could turn into severe liabilities for the Republican candidate who previously found success on these very issues.
Currently, only 31% of U.S. adults approve of Trump's handling of the economy, a significant drop from 40% reported in March, marking it as the lowest approval rating he has received during his time in office. Furthermore, his management of immigration reflects a similar downturn, plummeting from 49% approval in March to just 38% now, according to the poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Concerns regarding public backlash over Trump's federal government management continue to be prevalent, with minimal approval shifts following Congressional Democrats' agreement to end a historic government shutdown last month.
Perhaps more troubling for Trump is the erosion of approval for issues he once championed, such as crime, where positive assessment has fallen from 53% to 43% since earlier this year. This trend not only signifies dissatisfaction within his base but indicates a potential shift in independent voter sentiment as well.
While Trump's overall job approval stands at 36%, it has dipped from 42% in March. Despite this, the majority of Republicans continue to support him, indicating a divided response within his party.
As the poll further illustrates, Trump's approval rating appears to correlate with ongoing perceptions of the economy, with about 68% of Americans categorizing it as “poor,” a sentiment unchanged from previous assessments.
Critically, Trump's approval on handling border security remains relatively robust at 50%, illustrating that while overall satisfaction wanes, certain demographics still align with his policies on more pressing security issues. This mixed feedback reveals a more complicated relationship between Trump and the electorate as the midterms approach.
In summary, this poll paints a challenging picture for Trump as he navigates through declining approval ratings across critical issues, setup for pivotal midterm elections.
