In an unprecedented political development, Donald Trump has achieved a dubious milestone during his second term as US President. For the first time since taking office, every major polling organisation shows his approval rating has turned negative.
Across-the-Board Disapproval
According to data compiled in November 2025, all nine major polling firms now report more Americans disapprove than approve of President Trump's performance. The comprehensive analysis reveals that 55% of Americans disapprove of his presidency, while only 41% continue to support him.
Morning Consult, Ipsos, HarrisX, Quinnipiac, YouGov, and Pew Research collectively paint a bleak picture for the administration. This pattern is further reinforced by data from InsiderAdvantage, Big Data Poll, RMG Research, American Research Group, J.L. Partners, The Argument, Echelon Insights, Beacon Research, and High Point University.
The most dramatic finding comes from American Research Group, which documented that 62% of Americans now disapprove of Trump's presidency, representing the largest negative shift recorded.
What's Driving the Decline?
Several factors appear to be eroding the President's support base. The Jeffrey Epstein files controversy has emerged as a significant catalyst. During his campaign, Trump promised to release the documents in full, but in July he dismissed the matter as "pretty boring stuff."
Following an unprecedented petition that led to bipartisan legislation, Trump ultimately signed a bill mandating the files' release. However, the episode has prompted wider frustration with the President's policy approach and perceived inconsistency.
Other issues contributing to the decline include the murder of Charlie Kirk, controversial tariff decisions, and a press conference where Trump claimed paracetamol was linked to autism in children. These events have sown seeds of doubt among previously loyal supporters.
Historical Context and Republican Resilience
This isn't the first time Trump has faced challenging approval numbers. In 2021, he left the Oval Office after his first term with the worst first-term approval rating ever recorded at just 34%.
When he returned to the White House in January 2025, his approval rating had recovered to 52%, but this support began eroding by early February. Sweeping federal cuts that threatened hundreds of thousands of employees with dismissal accelerated his disapproval rating.
Despite the broader decline, the New York Times notes that Trump's support among Republican voters remains relatively strong. However, even within his base, concerns are growing. In September, the number of Trump voters who believed America wasn't on the right track jumped from 17% to 22%.
When compared to previous presidents, Trump's current numbers place him in concerning company. At this point in his first term, President Joe Biden faced a 41% approval rating according to Washington Post/ABC surveys, while Barack Obama saw his approval drop to 41% after re-taking office in 2013.
The presidential record for lowest approval rating remains with Richard Nixon, who plummeted to just 24% during the Watergate scandal. After his impeachment, Gallup found 66% of Americans disapproved of his presidency.
