Gallup Halts Presidential Approval Polling After 88 Years of Historical Tracking
The renowned public opinion polling agency Gallup has announced it will discontinue its long-standing presidential approval rating tracking after nearly nine decades of operation. This decision comes at a time when former President Donald Trump has been intensely scrutinizing polling data and publicly criticizing media outlets that report unfavorable numbers about his popularity.
Research Priorities Drive Historic Decision
A Gallup spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday that the agency will stop measuring favorability ratings for individual political figures, marking the end of a practice that began during Harry Truman's presidency. The company emphasized that this move "reflects an evolution in how Gallup focuses its public research and thought leadership" and is "solely based on Gallup's research goals and priorities."
The Gallup Presidential Approval Rating has served as one of the most frequently cited barometers of public opinion regarding presidential performance throughout American history. The polling data has captured significant moments, including George W. Bush's remarkable 90% approval rating following the September 11 attacks and Donald Trump's second-term approval rating dropping to 36% in December, among the lowest ever recorded by the company.
Trump's Ongoing Criticism of Polling Organizations
Donald Trump has maintained a persistent campaign against polling organizations and media companies that present him in a negative light. In January, after the New York Times released a poll showing his approval rating at 40% (a three-percentage-point decline since September 2025), Trump threatened to expand his existing defamation lawsuit.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump declared: "The Times Siena Poll, which is always tremendously negative to me, especially just before the Election of 2024, where I won in a Landslide, will be added to my lawsuit against The Failing New York Times."
The New York Times defended its polling methodology, with spokesperson Charlie Stadtlander stating on X: "President Trump likes polls that appear favorable to him and dislikes polls that do not. But whether a poll is good or bad for the president has no bearing on our methodology."
Gallup's Future Research Direction
Despite ending presidential approval tracking, Gallup remains committed to its core mission. The agency's spokesperson explained: "Our commitment is to long-term, methodologically sound research on issues and conditions that shape people's lives. That work will continue through the Gallup Poll Social Series, the Gallup Quarterly Business Review, the World Poll, and our portfolio of U.S. and global research."
The discontinuation of this historic polling practice represents a significant shift in how public opinion research will be conducted and reported moving forward. For 88 years, Gallup's presidential approval ratings have provided invaluable snapshots of American political sentiment through multiple administrations, wars, economic cycles, and social transformations.
