WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s approval rating has stalled near the absolute trough of his political career.
JUST 32 per cent of Americans approve of Trump’s performance in the Oval Office, according to nationwide public opinion data collected from 1,705 adults between November 6 and 9. The figure sits a solitary percentage point above his career-low 31 per cent recorded in mid-October. It signals deep, unresolved public anger across the country. And the warning signs are unmistakable.
Congressional voters delivered their verdict days earlier in the November 3 midterm elections, stripping Republicans of control across Capitol Hill. Democrats seized their largest majority in the House of Representatives since at least 2008. They also flipped Senate seats in conservative strongholds—snatching victories in Kansas, South Carolina, and Texas. The legislative firewall crumbled.
Voters directed their sharpest fury at household balance sheets. Only 21 per cent of Americans approved of Trump's handling of the cost of living. The war launched by the administration against Iran in February triggered an immediate spike in global oil markets, driving retail fuel prices upward and squeezing household budgets. Approval of Trump's broader economic stewardship slumped to 25 per cent.
| Survey Metric | Public Approval | Republican Approval | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Job Performance | 32% | — | ±2% |
| Cost of Living Handling | 21% | 50% | ±2% |
| Economic Policy Management | 25% | — | ±2% |
| Border & Immigration Policy | 38% | 81% | ±2% |
Border enforcement provided Trump his lone point of political insulation. His approval on immigration climbed to 38 per cent nationwide—far outpacing his economic marks. Among Republican respondents, 81 per cent endorsed his hardline immigration agenda, contrasting sharply with the 50 per cent of party members who backed his management of daily living expenses.
Yet Trump doubled down on border enforcement rather than economic recalibration. After returning to the presidency in January 2025, he aggressively widened deportation operations across the country. Last week, he elevated Stephen Miller—the architect of his strictest immigration mandates—to White House chief of staff.
The appointment consolidates West Wing power among ideological hardliners, even as certified midterm counts prepare to hand the speaker's gavel to a hostile Democratic majority in January.