The latest Trump polls show President Donald Trump facing a mixed political landscape as the 2026 midterm elections move closer. Several recent national surveys place his overall job approval in the low-to-upper 30% range, while his support among Republican voters remains considerably higher. At the same time, recent congressional preference polls have shown Democrats leading Republicans nationally, although the size of that advantage varies from one survey to another.
The polling picture is changing as voters focus on the economy, the cost of living, immigration, foreign policy and the direction of the federal government. With the November midterms approaching, Trump’s approval numbers are being closely watched because they provide a measure of how voters currently view his presidency.
Trump’s Current Approval Rating
Recent national polling conducted in September 2026 has generally placed Trump’s approval rating below 40%.
A Reuters/Ipsos survey conducted September 17–20 found that 32% of Americans approved of Trump’s job performance, while 66% disapproved. The result represented the lowest approval figure recorded for Trump in Reuters/Ipsos polling across his presidencies.
Other recent surveys have produced similar results, although not identical numbers. A CNN poll conducted September 16–17 found 33% approval and 67% disapproval. A Marquette Law School poll conducted earlier in September recorded 37% approval and 63% disapproval among adults. CBS News/YouGov reported 39% approval and 61% disapproval in its September survey.
The differences between these results are normal in public opinion polling. Each poll uses its own methodology, sample composition, field dates and question wording. As a result, a single survey should not be interpreted as the exact approval rating of the entire country.
Taken together, however, the September surveys show Trump’s approval remaining well below a majority nationally.
Republican Support Remains Higher
Trump’s national approval numbers look substantially different when the electorate is divided by political party.
The Reuters/Ipsos September survey found that 73% of Republicans approved of Trump’s overall job performance. That was down from 86% in January, according to the same polling series.
The difference between Trump’s overall approval and his approval among Republicans illustrates the highly partisan nature of his public support. Republican voters continue to report much more favorable views of his presidency than Democrats and independents.
The Republican numbers also vary depending on the issue being measured. Immigration, for example, has remained an area where Trump receives considerably stronger support within his party than among the overall electorate.
At the same time, economic questions have become more significant in recent polling. Republican approval of Trump’s handling of the U.S. economy and cost of living has declined from earlier in the year.
Economy Becomes a Major Polling Issue
Economic conditions are one of the most important factors appearing in recent surveys of Trump’s presidency.
The September Reuters/Ipsos survey found that only 17% of Americans approved of Trump’s handling of the cost of living. His rating on the broader economy was also weaker than earlier in the year.
Among Republicans, approval of Trump’s handling of the economy declined to 56%, compared with 80% in January. Approval of his handling of the cost of living fell to 44%, compared with 70% at the beginning of the year.
Those figures show that economic concerns are not limited to voters who generally oppose Trump. Some of the movement in recent polling has occurred among Republican voters as well.
The cost of groceries, gasoline, housing and other household expenses can have a direct effect on how voters evaluate the administration. For that reason, economic polling is likely to remain an important part of the political discussion throughout the final weeks before the midterm elections.
Generic Congressional Ballot Shows Democratic Lead
Another major component of the current polling picture is the generic congressional ballot.
Unlike a presidential approval question, the generic ballot asks voters which party’s candidate they would support for Congress without necessarily naming a specific candidate or district.
Recent September surveys have generally shown Democrats ahead nationally.
An Emerson College national poll conducted September 21–22 found Democrats receiving 53% support compared with 42% for Republicans among likely voters. That produced an 11-point Democratic advantage in the survey.
The Economist/YouGov survey conducted September 18–21 also showed Democrats ahead among likely voters, with 52% choosing the Democratic congressional candidate and 38% choosing the Republican candidate.
A Reuters/Ipsos survey from September 17–20 found Democrats ahead 43% to 35% among registered voters, while earlier Reuters/Ipsos polling had shown a smaller Democratic advantage.
These surveys do not provide a direct forecast of the final congressional result. The House of Representatives consists of individual district races, while Senate elections are decided state by state. National preference numbers therefore describe the broader political environment rather than determining the result in a particular state or district.
Why Trump’s Approval Matters in the 2026 Midterms
Although Trump himself is not on the ballot in the 2026 midterm elections, his presidency is an important part of the national political environment.
Candidates from both parties are campaigning on issues connected to the direction of the country, including economic policy, immigration, government spending, foreign affairs, taxes and healthcare.
The relationship between presidential approval and congressional voting can be significant because voters sometimes use midterm elections to express satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the party controlling the White House.
However, congressional races are also shaped by local factors. A competitive Senate race may depend heavily on the candidates involved, while a House contest can be influenced by district boundaries, turnout patterns and local political issues.
Consequently, national Trump approval numbers should be considered alongside state and district-level polling.
Foreign Policy and the Iran Conflict
Foreign policy has also become a prominent issue in recent surveys.
The ongoing conflict involving Iran has affected public opinion and has been linked to concerns about energy prices and the broader economy. Recent polling has found relatively low national approval for Trump’s handling of the conflict.
The Reuters/Ipsos September survey found that only about one-third of Americans approved of Trump’s handling of the conflict, while a larger share disapproved.
The issue has also become relevant to Republican candidates in competitive states. Some Republican candidates have publicly emphasized concerns about fuel prices and the economic consequences of the conflict, showing that foreign-policy decisions can overlap with domestic economic concerns.
Voters’ opinions on the conflict remain divided by party, with Republicans generally more supportive of Trump’s approach than Democrats.
Immigration Remains a Different Story
Immigration continues to be one of the issues where Trump’s support differs sharply depending on the electorate being measured.
Recent surveys show stronger approval among Republicans for Trump’s immigration policies than among the broader public.
That partisan divide has remained a recurring feature of polling during Trump’s second term.
National approval of his handling of immigration has nevertheless remained below a majority. In the Reuters/Ipsos September survey, 36% of Americans approved of Trump’s handling of immigration, while 55% disapproved.
The issue remains central to the administration’s political agenda and is expected to remain prominent during the midterm campaign.
Voters Are Paying Attention to the Midterms
Polling also indicates that voters are increasingly focused on the 2026 elections.
A recent Marist survey found that roughly three-quarters of voters said they were following the midterm elections either very closely or closely. The survey also found that a large majority said they cared at least quite a bit about which party would control Congress.
That level of attention matters because turnout is an important factor in midterm elections.
Unlike presidential elections, midterms generally attract a smaller share of the eligible electorate. The voters who ultimately participate can therefore have a major effect on the results of individual races.
Polling conducted several weeks before Election Day cannot determine exactly which groups will turn out. Campaign activity, late-breaking events and voter enthusiasm can all influence participation.
How to Read the Latest Trump Polls
Anyone following political polling should look beyond a single headline number.
First, the date of the survey matters. A poll conducted several weeks earlier may not reflect current public opinion.
Second, the sample matters. Some surveys measure all adults, while others focus on registered voters or likely voters. These groups can produce different results.
Third, the margin of error should be considered. A poll showing one candidate or party ahead by only a few points may represent a much closer race than the headline number suggests.
Fourth, different pollsters use different methodologies. Some rely on online panels, others use probability-based samples or mixed approaches. Weighting procedures also differ.
For these reasons, analysts often examine several polls together instead of relying on one survey.
What Could Change the Numbers?
The polling environment could continue to change before Election Day.
Economic conditions will remain important, particularly if voters experience changes in gasoline prices, inflation, employment or household costs.
Foreign-policy developments could also affect Trump’s approval rating. A major change in the Iran conflict or another international crisis could shift public opinion.
Congressional candidates will also become more visible as campaigns intensify. Voters who currently have limited information about individual candidates may make decisions later in the campaign.
Campaign advertising, debates, endorsements and local controversies can also influence individual races even when national presidential approval numbers remain relatively stable.
Latest Trump Polls and the Road to November
The current polling landscape presents several measurable trends but does not provide a definitive result for the November elections.
Trump’s national approval rating is currently below 40% in several major surveys conducted during September. At the same time, his approval among Republicans remains much higher, although recent polling shows some decline in Republican ratings of his economic performance.
The congressional environment is another important development. Several September surveys have shown Democrats holding a national advantage on the generic congressional ballot, with the margin varying considerably by pollster.
Economic concerns, particularly the cost of living, have emerged as an important factor in Trump’s current polling numbers. Foreign policy and immigration remain major issues as well.
The coming weeks will provide additional information as new national and state polls are released. The most useful way to follow the numbers is to compare multiple recent surveys, pay attention to their field dates and understand whether they measure adults, registered voters or likely voters.
For now, the polling data show a president with substantially stronger support inside his own party than among the overall electorate, alongside a national congressional environment in which Democratic candidates have recently led in several major surveys.
The final outcome of the 2026 midterm elections will depend on actual votes cast in individual congressional districts and states. Current polling provides a snapshot of voter opinion at a particular moment rather than a guaranteed result.
╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ – Donald Trump’s national approval rating is below 40% in several September 2026 polls. ║
║ – A recent Reuters/Ipsos survey recorded 32% approval and 66% disapproval among Americans. ║
║ – Trump’s approval remains substantially higher among Republican voters than among the overall electorate. ║
║ – Recent surveys show Democrats leading Republicans on the generic congressional ballot, although the size of the lead varies by poll. ║
║ – Economic concerns, the cost of living, immigration and foreign policy are among the major issues shaping Trump’s current polling numbers. ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝