Trump Approval Hits Second-Term Low at 30% in Pew Poll

A Pew Research Center survey released Oct. 8, 2026, puts President Donald Trump's approval at 30% and disapproval at 68%, his second-term low and one point above his 29% first-term low after Jan. 6, 2021. The Sept. 28-Oct. 4 poll of roughly 5,000 adults finds 67% of 2024 Trump voters still approve, down from 95%, with sharper falls among younger and Hispanic supporters. Sixty-three percent of registered voters say Trump will factor into their congressional vote, more against than for him. Democrats lead by eight points on the generic ballot. Eighty-four percent say the economy is very important to their vote; only 21% rate conditions excellent or good. The reading is below Biden's 38% in Pew's October 2022 survey. Trump disputes such polls. On Aug. 30 he posted on Truth Social: "THE FAKE POLLS USED BY OUR CROOKED MEDIA ARE OUT OF CONTROL, AND SOMETHING MUST BE DONE ABOUT IT. FCC TO THE RESCUE!" When Kristen Holmes cited Latino approval at 27%, he cut her off, calling CNN fake news and saying his numbers are great. Grant Davis Reeher told Newsweek that "versus" seems more powerful than "for" in recent years and that voters still in play might "come home" to Republicans. Aaron Blake called the Pew result the first quality poll this term to show him that low. Midterm ballots are weeks away; translation into seats is unresolved.