President Donald Trump’s approval rating has hit a new second-term low, a survey from Emerson College Polling shows on Friday.
Newsweek reached out to political analysts via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Low approval ratings traditionally undermine a president’s ability to advance their agenda and increase challenges for their party in midterm elections.
As Democrats gain ground on the heels of sweeping election wins this week, the Republican Party potentially faces heightened risks ahead of the 2026 midterms.
What To Know
In the poll, Trump has a 41 percent approval rating versus a 49 percent disapproval rating. The poll was conducted from November 3 to November 4 among 1000 active registered voters and has a 3 percent margin of error.
The president’s approval rating dropped from 45 percent in an October poll, and from his highest of 49 percent in January. The president’s net approval rating with the pollster broke even with 45 percent in April. Trump’s approval rating has been declining since, with Friday’s poll marking his largest negative net approval rating gap.
“Nearly one year after he was elected, President Trump’s approval has flipped since the first Emerson College poll of the new administration,” executive director of Emerson College Polling Spencer Kimball said.
“Since his inauguration, Trump has lost support among key groups: Republican voters’ approval decreased 12 points from 91% to 79%, and his disapproval intensified among independent voters, from 44% to 51%, and Hispanics, from 39% to 54%.”
What People Are Saying
Robert B. Reich, political commentator, professor and former Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton, on X on Friday: “Trump is a failing authoritarian whose approval ratings are tanking. Like any bully who feels humiliated, he lashes out. But what he doesn’t realize is that his bullying is waking up America’s great sleeping giant. We saw it begin to roar again this week.”
Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law, on X last month: “The ‘experts’ have been underestimating @realDonaldTrump since 1985 – he knew then and he proved today why he is the ultimate deal maker. I believe he will leave office with the highest approval rating of any modern president…the first 9.5 months were just the beginning.”
What Happens Next
With public opinion souring and the shutdown ongoing, prospects for President Trump’s administration and the Republican Party in the 2026 midterms appear uncertain. Further polling, as well as the government’s response to legislative and economic challenges, will shape the political landscape moving forward.
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