27. March 2026

Trump's Disapproval Rating Breaks Records in New Polls

WASHINGTON-- President Donald Trump’s disapproval rating has climbed to its highest level of his second term, according to new polling released as attention begins to shift toward the 2026 midterm elections.

The survey, conducted by Big Data Poll, underscores a steady erosion in the president’s standing driven more by rising dissatisfaction than any sharp decline in support among his political base. The findings arrive at a politically sensitive moment for the White House, which is managing the fallout from the ongoing war with Iran while also preparing for a contentious election cycle that will determine control of Congress.

In March, 42.3% of voters said they approve of Trump’s job performance, while 55.7% said they disapprove. That gap — a negative spread of 13.4 percentage points — marks the widest net disapproval of his current term and the highest overall level of voter dissatisfaction recorded so far, according to the poll.

The results are based on a survey of 3,003 registered voters conducted between March 22 and March 24 as part of the Public Polling Project. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. Researchers used a combination of online responses through Lucid (CINT) and live-agent phone interviews, including peer-to-peer text outreach, with results weighted to reflect the national electorate by demographics such as age, race, education and geography.

Despite the negative topline numbers, the White House has sought to frame the data as consistent with a polarized political environment rather than a weakening presidency. In a statement, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle pointed to Trump’s 2024 election victory as the most meaningful measure of public support.

“The ultimate poll was November 5, 2024, when nearly 80 million Americans overwhelmingly elected President Trump to deliver on his popular and commonsense agenda,” Ingle said.

Administration officials have also emphasized continued backing from Republican voters, particularly for Trump’s foreign policy decisions. They argue that support remains strong among the president’s core coalition, including for the administration’s military campaign against Iran, known as Operation Epic Fury.

Still, the broader trend lines suggest a more complicated political landscape. Analysts say the warning signs may be less about partisan shifts and more about growing frustration among independent voters — a group that often plays a decisive role in midterm elections.

Brett Loyd, a polling and research specialist with the Independent Center, said the data points to an electorate that is increasingly disillusioned but not necessarily moving toward either party.

“Even with the governing party taking heat for everything from gas prices to airport lines, independent voters aren’t tripping over each other to go support the opposition,” Loyd said. “It signals a tired electorate that feels they have no one to turn to, regardless of how bad things get.”

That sense of disengagement could complicate efforts for both parties as they look to mobilize voters in competitive districts. Historically, midterm outcomes are shaped not just by approval ratings, but by which side is more motivated to turn out.

Other polling averages show a similar pattern, though with varying degrees of intensity. RealClearPolitics’ average places Trump’s approval rating at 41.2%, with disapproval at 56.6%, for a net rating of minus 15.4. CNN’s poll-of-polls shows a wider gap, with 38% approval and 60% disapproval, while The New York Times’ average puts Trump at 40% approval and 56% disapproval.

The White House maintains that those figures do not fully capture the administration’s policy achievements or its political strength. In a separate statement, Ingle said Trump “has already made historic progress not only in America, but around the world,” adding that it is “not surprising that President Trump remains the most dominant figure in American politics.”

Trump himself has defended his handling of the Iran conflict, arguing that the long-term benefits outweigh short-term political or economic concerns.

“When this is over, oil prices are going to go down very, very rapidly. So is inflation,” Trump said last week. “But much more important than short-term or even long-term oil prices: You cannot let the most violent, vicious country in the last 50 years have a nuclear weapon.”

Democrats, meanwhile, see the polling as evidence of broader voter dissatisfaction with Republican leadership. Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Bridget Gonzalez said voters are increasingly frustrated across a range of issues, from immigration policy to economic concerns.

“On every issue, and with every major voting bloc, Republicans are failing,” Gonzalez said. “Voters don’t agree with their lawless immigration enforcement tactics and are done listening to their broken promises.”

With the Iran conflict ongoing and campaign season accelerating, future polling will help determine whether the current mood of dissatisfaction translates into meaningful electoral shifts — or remains a sign of an electorate that is frustrated, but not yet persuaded to change course.