Trump approval drops to historic low ahead of midterms, CNN data analyst reports

A NEW Reuters/Ipsos survey shows President Donald Trump’s net approval rating has plunged to -35 points, marking an all-time low for his presidency. The figure represents a 41-point drop from where he stood at the start of his term in January 2025, when his net approval sat at +6.

According to the polling data, the drop is driven heavily by independent voters, among whom Trump sits 54 points underwater.

Breaking down the numbers on CNN, chief data analyst Harry Enten reported that Trump now holds the four worst pre-midterm October net approval ratings recorded in presidential polling history dating back to 1938.

Those four historical lows appear across separate surveys from NBC, ABC/Ipsos, Reuters/Ipsos, and the Pew Research Center, each showing Trump at least 31 points underwater. Before these findings, the lowest pre-midterm October net approval on record belonged to President Harry S. Truman, who stood at -30 points.

Enten pointed to historical precedents where presidents faced similar deficits heading into a midterm cycle, noting that presidents holding a net approval of -15 points or worse—including Truman and George W. Bush in 2006—went on to see their party lose control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

For his part, Trump defended his standing and pointed to the turnout at his campaign events. “I’m the one that got him there. I’m the one that’s winning. I’m the one that’s doing the rallies that’s taking people into a winning position,” Trump stated, adding, “My rallies are having a huge impact and a positive impact on the Republican Party.”

With the midterm elections approaching, the polling results reflect significant challenges for the party in power as campaigns enter their final stretch.