Donald Trump's disapproval rating surges to 58%: Poll

US President Donald Trump is facing the lowest public support of his second term, with a new national survey showing a sharp rise in dissatisfaction with his performance. The findings were published on Thursday in a joint poll by Reuters and Ipsos, as reported by Al Jazeera.

According to the survey, Trump's disapproval rating climbed to 58% this month, up from 52% recorded in mid-May. His approval rating, however, has held steady at around 40%, showing no meaningful improvement over the past six months.

The online poll, carried out over six days, gathered responses from 1,200 adults across the United States, asking for their views on leading political figures and their preferences ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

One of the standout findings was a significant enthusiasm gap between the two major parties. About 44% of voters identifying as Democrats said they were "very enthusiastic" about casting their ballots in 2026, compared with only 26% of Republicans. The survey also found that 79% of Democratic voters would feel regret if they failed to participate in the midterms, in contrast to 68% of Republicans.

All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 Senate seats will be contested next year. Republicans currently hold both chambers, but Democrats have recently gained momentum following notable victories during the 4 November off-year elections. 

The party secured landslide wins in the Virginia and New Jersey governor's races, while in New York City, Zohran Mamdani cruised to victory in a highly followed mayoral contest. In California, voters approved a ballot measure designed to redraw congressional districts in favour of Democrats, countering Republican-led gerrymandering efforts elsewhere.

The Reuters–Ipsos poll concluded just hours before Congress voted to end the longest government shutdown in US history. A new spending bill, extending federal funding until 30 January, passed in the House with a 222–209 vote. 

Six Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the measure. Trump later signed the bill, formally ending the 43-day shutdown, which had disrupted federal services, strained households and caused major delays in aviation.

The Senate had approved the funding package earlier in the week, with seven Democrats and one independent backing the proposal.

Despite the enthusiasm gap, voter intention appears closely split. When asked how they would vote if congressional elections were held today, 41% of registered voters said they would choose the Democratic candidate, while 40% opted for the Republican one — a difference well within the poll's three-percentage-point margin of error.