18/10/2026
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18/10/2026
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WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 34%, its lowest level of his second term in a new NBC News poll, as widespread economic concerns and dissatisfaction with his policies weigh on public opinion ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
The poll, released on Saturday, found that 71% of American adults believe the country is heading in the “wrong direction,” the highest proportion recorded during Trump’s second term. Only 34% approved of his performance as president, while 66% disapproved. The share who strongly disapproved of his performance reached 51%, also a second-term high.
Economic concerns emerged as the leading factor shaping public opinion. The economy was identified as the country’s most important issue by 31% of respondents, while 44% said their financial situation had deteriorated over the past year. Another 38% said their circumstances had remained unchanged, and 18% reported an improvement.
Rising fuel prices are adding to household pressures, with 67% describing gasoline prices as a serious problem. The survey also found that many Americans had changed their grocery purchases or cut spending to meet essential expenses. The findings point to potential challenges for Republicans as they seek to retain control of Congress in the November 3 midterm elections.
Among registered voters, 55% preferred Democrats to control Congress, compared with 45% who favoured Republicans, giving Democrats a 10-percentage-point advantage in the poll.
Public dissatisfaction also extended to Trump’s broader policy agenda. Some 58% of respondents said his policies were hurting the country, while 28% believed they were helping. The remaining 14% said the policies made no difference.
Trump received particularly low ratings on the cost of living and the war with Iran. Only 27% approved of his handling of living costs, while 29% approved of his approach to the conflict with Iran.
Immigration and border security remained his strongest issue, with 43% approving of his performance in that area.
The NBC News Decision Desk poll, powered by SurveyMonkey, surveyed 19,135 US adults online between September 28 and October 12. The reported margin of error was plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.
The findings offer a snapshot of public sentiment ahead of the midterm elections, when voters will decide control of Congress and determine the political landscape for the remainder of Trump’s presidency. The poll indicates significant dissatisfaction with the president, particularly over economic conditions and the war with Iran, but does not determine the election outcome.
