Trump’s Approval Rating Sinks to New Second-Term Lows as Shutdown Drags On
President Donald Trump is facing some of the weakest
approval numbers of his second term, with multiple new polls showing his
support sliding across almost every major issue. The trend has been building
for weeks, and pollsters say the ongoing government shutdown is playing a major
role.
Here’s the thing: two major surveys released this week —
Morning Consult and Harvard CAPS/Harris — both put Trump’s approval rating at 44
percent, matching his lowest marks of the term. More than half of
respondents in both polls disapproved of his performance. And in the Harvard
poll, 75 percent of voters said they oppose the shutdown, with most
placing the blame on Republicans.
A separate CNN poll painted an even starker picture.
Conducted by SSRS, it found Trump at 37 percent approval, the lowest CNN
has recorded in his second term. His disapproval climbed to 63 percent,
even higher than when he left office in 2021.
Other surveys echoed the same mood. A Washington Post–ABC
News–Ipsos poll put Trump at 41 percent approval, while an
Economist/YouGov poll recorded a second-term low of 39 percent.
Reuters/Ipsos showed him hovering around 40 percent, with a clear majority
blaming Republicans for the shutdown.
The decline isn’t limited to headline numbers. Trump’s
approval on nine key issues — from the economy to foreign policy — has fallen
below 50 percent. Only crime and immigration remain comparatively strong for
him.
Despite this, Trump has repeatedly insisted he has “the
highest poll numbers ever,” a claim that doesn’t match the published data.
Pollster Nate Silver put it bluntly: Trump’s approval is “in
a free fall.” In his latest analysis, Silver noted that the president’s net
approval has slipped from -7.5 points in late October to -13 in early
November. Strong disapproval has climbed to 45 percent, a second-term
high.
The broader polling landscape isn’t any kinder.
• The Economist/YouGov’s most recent numbers show a -19 net rating.
• Rasmussen — often friendlier to Republican candidates — has him at -8.
• RealClearPolitics’ poll average sits at -8.9, the lowest of his second
term.
Political analysts say the shutdown is a key factor.
Prolonged gridlock rarely helps a sitting president, and voters tend to blame
the White House more than Congress. “It’s hard to look at the shutdown and not
see it weighing on Trump’s polling,” political scientist Thomas Gift said.
Even within a sharply divided climate, some numbers stand
out. In multiple surveys, a clear majority say the country is on the wrong
track. Many see both parties as out of touch, but the president is taking the
bigger hit. One CNN analyst compared the trend to the Titanic — “down there
with the ocean floor.”
Trump, for his part, has dismissed the negative polls,
calling them “fake” and “slanted” on Truth Social. But the numbers tell a more
complicated story. While he still enjoys strong backing among Republicans, his
national approval sits at an average of 42 percent — almost identical to
his first-term average and well below historical norms for a sitting president.
What this really means is that Trump is entering a critical political stretch on shaky ground. With the 2026 midterms on the horizon, Republicans are watching these numbers closely. Whether this slump is temporary or the start of a longer trend is the question hanging over Washington.
Timeline — Trump’s Second‑Term Approval Ratings
Snapshot of major polls from Sept–Nov showing approval, disapproval and shutdown-related findings.
Approval at 44% in two major polls
Both Morning Consult (survey Nov 7–9) and Harvard CAPS/Harris (Nov 4–6) reported 44% approval. Morning Consult shows 54% disapprove. Harvard’s poll finds 75% oppose the government shutdown and 53% blame Republicans.
Approval dips to 37%
CNN’s SSRS poll recorded a 37% approval — the lowest the network has seen in his second term — with 63% disapproval. Democrats held a slim five-point advantage on the midterm ballot in that survey.
41% approval; majority say 'out of touch'
The Washington Post‑ABC News‑Ipsos poll put Trump at 41% approval and 59% disapproval. About 63% of respondents said he was “out of touch,” with 68% saying the same about the Democratic Party.
39% approval, one of the lowest readings
Economist/YouGov recorded a 39% approval and 58% disapproval (Oct 24–27). That poll produced a net approval near the lowest levels seen in his presidency so far.
Approval at ~40%
Reuters/Ipsos found approval around 40% and 57% disapproval. A majority (52%) said the shutdown had no direct impact on their lives.
Numbers hold steady
Morning Consult showed approval at 46% and disapproval at 51%, with no major change from the previous week.
Mixed readings around low 40s
Polls in this window showed approvals in the high 30s to low 40s. Reuters/Ipsos found approval at 42% (Oct 15–20), while Economist/YouGov had it at 39% (Oct 17–20). Several surveys pointed to Republican blame for the shutdown outpacing Democrats.
Short-lived spike to 51%
Morning Consult recorded a brief jump to 51% approval in the Oct 17–19 poll — the highest reading since late August — but later polls pulled that number back down.
Approval fluctuates; foreign policy bump
Mid‑October readings varied: Morning Consult dipped to 45% while an Emerson College poll showed a small uptick. Approval for his handling of the Israel–Hamas conflict rose sharply in Emerson's survey.
Steady downward pressure
Through September and early October, polls routinely showed approval in the low‑to‑mid 40s and disapproval in the mid‑50s. Gallup calculates a second‑term average near 42%.
Approval ratings shape how voters view a president’s mandate and can influence midterm outcomes. The government shutdown and perceptions of who’s to blame have been significant drivers of public sentiment in these polls.
Major national polls cited: Morning Consult, Harvard CAPS/Harris, CNN/SSRS, Washington Post–ABC News–Ipsos, Economist/YouGov, Reuters/Ipsos, Emerson College and others.
If you find my content helpful, consider buying me a coffee to show your appreciation and help me continue creating.
Buy Me a Coffee