Trump approval ratings fall as midterms approach
Trump approval rating falls as midterms near amid war and gas price pain See how his slump compares with past presidents and what it means for GOP
President Donald Trump’s approval rating has slipped below water as the 2026 midterm elections draw near, with recent polling showing him near the low 40s or even the upper 30s in some surveys. The decline comes amid public frustration over the twomonth war with Iran and rising gas prices tied to the conflict.
The article says Trump’s numbers are not unusual compared with recent presidents at similar points in their terms. It notes that Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush also faced negative approval ratings before midterm elections, and those ratings often became a political problem for their parties.
For Republicans, the weaker polling adds pressure as they try to defend narrow majorities in the Senate and House. The article also points out that midterm results can still be shaped by other issues, not just presidential approval, citing Democrats’ 2022 gains after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.