Trump’s Approval Rating Hits New Low in Second Term, Pew Poll Finds
President Trump’s approval rating falls to 30%, a new second-term low, with Democrats holding an 8-point lead ahead of midterms.
Daniel Torok/Wikimedia Commons
President Donald Trump’s approval rating has dropped to a new low during his second term, with only 30% of Americans approving of his job performance, according to a Pew Research Center poll released Thursday, Oct. 8. The survey, conducted from Sept. 28 to Oct. 4, highlights growing dissatisfaction with Trump’s presidency just weeks before the midterm elections.
Trump’s Lowest Second-Term Approval
The Pew poll marks Trump’s lowest approval rating since he began his second term in January 2025. The 30% approval figure is only one percentage point higher than his lowest rating at the end of his first term on Jan. 12, 2021, when he stood at 29%. This new low also trails behind former President Joe Biden’s 32% low in July 2024 and is 11 points below former President Barack Obama’s lowest rating of 41% between October and November of 2013.
Poll Details and Voter Sentiment
The survey sampled 5,062 adults and has a margin of error of 1.6 percentage points. It found that dissatisfaction is growing not only among the general electorate but also within Trump’s own base. Only 67% of Trump voters currently approve of his job performance, a decline of 28 percentage points since the start of his term. Furthermore, just 39% of Republicans express satisfaction with the state of the nation, down sharply from 65% at the beginning of Trump’s second term.
Democrats Gain Ground Ahead of Midterms
With the midterm elections approaching, the Pew poll also reveals an eight-point advantage for Democrats over Republicans in a generic congressional ballot. Economic concerns remain paramount for voters, with 84% of registered voters citing the economy as very important to their vote. However, only 21% believe current economic conditions are excellent or good, a factor that may be fueling Democratic momentum.
Polling Averages Confirm Negative Trend
Other major polling averages reflect Trump’s struggles in public approval. As of Oct. 8, RealClearPolitics reports a 38.3% approval rating versus 59.4% disapproval. The New York Times shows 37% approval to 61% disapproval, while Silver Bulletin notes 37.1% approval and 60.1% disapproval. These figures underscore the broad challenges facing the president and the Republican Party heading into November.
President Trump’s declining approval ratings and the growing Democratic edge in polling highlight the high stakes for both parties in the upcoming midterm elections, with economic issues and voter dissatisfaction playing critical roles.
