Trump Records Lowest Midterm Approval Rating in Polling History

As the 2026 midterm elections conclude, President Donald Trump has recorded the lowest voter approval rating of any president during a midterm cycle in the modern polling era. According to recent exit polling from CBS News, the president’s job approval sits at 38 percent. This figure represents a notable decline from the 45 percent approval rating he maintained during his first term in the 2018 midterms.

Historical comparisons highlight the severity of these numbers. Trump’s current standing falls below the midterm approval ratings of his predecessors, including Joe Biden, who held 44 percent in 2022, and Barack Obama, who also saw 44 percent in 2010. Even George W. Bush, who faced significant public scrutiny during the 2006 midterms amid the conflict in Iraq, maintained a higher approval rating of 43 percent.

Throughout the lead-up to the election, the president struggled to leverage his personal image to bolster Republican candidates. Analysts suggest that a worsened economic backdrop has played a significant role in this decline. While the economy was viewed as a strength during his first term, recent surveys indicate that a majority of voters are increasingly dissatisfied with the current cost of living and broader economic conditions.

Public sentiment appears particularly strained, with exit polls revealing that a substantial portion of the electorate feels angry regarding the state of the nation. As the political landscape shifts, these historic low approval numbers underscore the challenges the administration faced in maintaining voter support during this critical midterm period.