President Donald Trump’s approval rating fell below 30 percent for the first time during his White House terms. This decline comes as the midterm elections approach. An American Research Group poll conducted from September 16-20, surveying 1,100 American adults, recorded the president’s overall approval rating at 29 percent. Positive views on the economy stood at 26 percent. The survey highlighted that 72 percent of participants believed the U.S. economy was worsening, attributing this to rising gas and grocery prices, despite the Trump administration’s claims that such hardships continue to stem from the previous administration.
Recent polls have usually shown Trump’s approval in the mid-to-high 30s, varying based on policy issues. According to Gallup’s presidential approval tracker, the last presidential approval in the 20s was for President George W. Bush at the end of 2008. Newsweek contacted the White House for comments regarding the poll data.
Trump’s New Approval Rating: Key Points
The ARG poll released indicated that 68 percent of voters disapproved of Trump’s performance, increasing by 2 percent since August. Regarding economic management, the disapproval stood at 71 percent, up from 69 percent the previous month. Only 6 percent of respondents anticipated economic improvement over the next year, while 70 percent expected deterioration. These results pose significant challenges for a president who often promoted his economic strategies, promising Americans a ‘golden age.’ Concerns over personal finances were notable, with fewer than 20 percent of respondents perceiving their household finances positively, in contrast to 75 percent viewing them negatively.
In February 2025, shortly after Trump re-entered the White House, nearly half of his supporters believed the economy would improve, an optimism that has significantly diminished.
Comparison with Other Presidents
Gallup’s historical tracking of presidential approval ratings shows that the last instance of a rating below 30 percent occurred during the 2008 global financial crisis, when scrutiny on Bush intensified before the election. On average, President Barack Obama’s approval was 48 percent, and President Joe Biden’s stands at approximately 42.2 percent. Throughout his terms, Trump averaged around 41 percent. When exiting the White House for the first time, Trump’s approval was approximately 34 percent.
Newsweek reporters and editors utilized Martyn, their AI assistant, to compile this story. For details, contact Newsweek editors, Jason Lemon and Gray R. Thomas.
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