A new poll reveals that President Donald Trump's disapproval rating has surged to 58%, marking the highest level of his presidency. The survey, conducted by a leading polling organization, indicates growing public discontent with his performance in office.
Key Findings
The poll, which sampled over 1,500 registered voters, shows that only 38% approve of the job Trump is doing, while 4% remain undecided. This represents a significant shift from earlier this year, when his approval rating hovered around 44%.
Demographic Breakdown
Disapproval is particularly high among independent voters, with 62% expressing dissatisfaction. Among women, disapproval stands at 65%, while men are more evenly split, with 50% disapproving and 45% approving. Age also plays a role: voters under 30 disapprove at a rate of 72%, whereas those over 65 show a narrower 52% disapproval.
Issues Driving Disapproval
The poll identifies several key issues contributing to the high disapproval rating:
- Economy: 55% of respondents disapprove of Trump's handling of the economy, despite recent job growth.
- Healthcare: 63% disapprove of his approach to healthcare, particularly regarding the Affordable Care Act.
- Foreign Policy: 60% disapprove of his handling of international relations, including trade disputes and military engagements.
- Immigration: 58% disapprove of his immigration policies, including family separations and border wall funding.
Historical Context
Trump's previous highest disapproval rating was 56% in late 2025. The current 58% places him among the most unpopular presidents at this point in their term. By comparison, former President Barack Obama had a 45% disapproval rating at a similar stage, while George W. Bush had 52% during the Iraq War.
Impact on Midterms
Political analysts suggest that the high disapproval rating could spell trouble for Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections. "If these numbers hold, we could see significant losses for the GOP," said Dr. Emily Carter, a political scientist at Georgetown University. "Independent voters, in particular, are crucial, and they are clearly unhappy."
Response from the White House
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders dismissed the poll, calling it "fake news" and questioning the methodology. "President Trump remains focused on delivering results for the American people," she said in a statement. "Polls like this are often skewed and don't reflect the true sentiment of the country."
Despite the administration's pushback, the poll has been widely covered by major news outlets, and Trump himself tweeted about it, accusing the media of bias. "The Fake News media is pushing a narrative that doesn't exist. My approval ratings are actually very high, especially with real Americans. Don't believe the polls!" he wrote.
Methodology
The poll was conducted from April 28 to May 2, 2026, via telephone and online interviews. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points. The survey was commissioned by a nonpartisan research institute.
As the midterms approach, all eyes will be on whether Trump can reverse this trend or if disapproval will continue to climb.
