Donald Trump's Unfavorable Rating Surges, New Poll Shows
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
By Anna Commander
Deputy News Editor
ShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member
President Donald Trump's unfavorable rating has surged, a new poll from the Associated Press and NORC at the University of Chicago finds on Thursday.
The data aligns with additional national surveys showing Trump's overall job approval in the high 30s to low 40s, indicating potential headwinds ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Newsweek reached out to a political analyst via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Shifts within public sentiment could signal broader erosion and potentially complicate midterm strategies for the Republican Party, particularly as multiple trackers show Trump significantly underwater nationally and on key policy issues like the economy and immigration.
What To Know
According to the poll, 61 percent view the president very or somewhat unfavorable. The poll shows 34 percent view him as very or somewhat favorable, and 4 percent don't know enough to say.
A previous survey by the pollster taken in October shows the president had a 56 percent net unfavorable rating versus a 39 percent net favorable rating. Polls taken over years show the last time the president had a net unfavorable rating of 61 percent or higher was in a survey from January 25 to January 29, 2024.
Thursday's poll surveyed 1,156 U.S. adults from February 5 to February 8, 2026, and has a margin of error of 3.9 percent.
Trump's overall approval rating in the poll is 36 percent, and his disapproval rating is 62 percent. Trump's approval rating on the economy is 39 percent versus 59 percent disapproval. On immigration, the president's approval rating with the pollster is 38 percent versus a 60 percent disapproval rating.
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What People Are Saying
Grant Davis Reeher, professor of political science at Syracuse University, to Newsweek when asked if the poll would be something Trump should be concerned about: "In short, yes. Every single one of these numbers, and the trends, point to problems in the mid-terms for the Republicans, which in turn point to problems for the remainder of Trump's presidency. What's interesting to note is the continued pessimism of the country about the overall direction of the country. The satisfaction on this was very low in the latter part of Biden's presidency, and it hasn't really budged positively since. That doesn't bode well for the incumbent party, which is Republican."
CNN Chief Data Analyst Harry Enten, on X Tuesday: "On jobs, Americans think Trump took a beautiful swan & turned it into an ugly duckling. His net approval on jobs is down 22 pts from last year. Down 37 with indies. 52% now rate the job market as bad! Highest % think unemployment will go up since the Great Recession."
What Happens Next
Weekly and monthly polls tracking the president's performance are expected to continue as midterm elections near.
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President Donald Trump's unfavorable rating has surged, a new poll from the Associated Press and NORC at the University of Chicago finds on Thursday.
The data aligns with additional national surveys showing Trump's overall job approval in the high 30s to low 40s, indicating potential headwinds ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
It's about time Americans woke up.
Shifts within public sentiment could signal broader erosion and potentially complicate midterm strategies for the Republican Party, particularly as multiple trackers show Trump significantly underwater nationally and on key policy issues like the economy and immigration.
According to the poll, 61 percent view the president very or somewhat unfavorable. The poll shows 34 percent view him as very or somewhat favorable, and 4 percent don't know enough to say.
Let's hope so - because only Congress can stop America's Nero from fiddling. I have no faith that the SCotUS will.
Initially many voters said that a main issue for them was the border and immigration (voters wanting tighter controls for each), But now many have shifted their views and feel that the way Trump's policies (and particularly the way ICE is acting) are excessice and that's hurting him in the polls.
CNN Chief Data Analyst Harry Enten, on X Tuesday: "On jobs, Americans think Trump took a beautiful swan & turned it into an ugly duckling. His net approval on jobs is down 22 pts from last year. Down 37 with indies. 52% now rate the job market as bad! Highest % think unemployment will go up since the Great Recession."
Not just jobs.
It is a long time till November.
That's a movie quotation. In The American President, hopeful to be elected Republican leader answered with those words when asked if he would be the Republican candidate to depose the existing Democrat PotUS at the upcoming election.
The midterm strategy is the same as it always was. Cheat.