Americans disapprove of Trump’s job performance but midterm support remains split, poll finds
The survey found that 41% of Americans approve of Trump’s performance, while 59% disapprove.
A majority of Americans disapprove of President Donald Trump's job performance, but public dissatisfaction has not translated into a clear advantage for the Democratic Party ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, according to a Washington Post–ABC News–Ipsos poll.
The survey found that 41% of Americans approve of Trump's performance, while 59% disapprove.
This marks the highest disapproval rating recorded in the Post's polling since January 2021, shortly after the attack on the US Capitol.
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Support remains strongly partisan: 86% of Republicans approve of Trump, compared with 95% of Democrats who disapprove. Among independents, approval stands at 30% and disapproval at 69%.
Across major policy areas — including the economy, immigration, federal administration, crime and conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine — most respondents said they disapproved of Trump's handling of each issue.
The closest margin of disapproval was over the Israel–Gaza situation, but 52% still said they were dissatisfied.
The poll also indicates concern over Trump's use of executive authority. 64% of respondents said he is going too far in trying to expand presidential powers.
Majorities voiced similar concerns regarding policy actions such as reducing the federal workforce, deploying the National Guard to patrol US cities, and seeking to reshape higher education governance.
However, public opinion is more divided on Trump's immigration approach.
On issues such as deporting undocumented immigrants or restricting legal entry, the country is split between those who believe Trump is going too far and those who feel he has not gone far enough.
When asked how they would vote if congressional elections were held today, 46% of registered voters said they would support the Democratic candidate in their district, while 44% would choose the Republican — a narrow gap that contrasts sharply with the wider Democratic leads seen at this point before the 2018 midterms.
The poll also highlights broader dissatisfaction with political leadership.
About 68% of respondents said the Democratic Party is out of touch with the public, compared with 63% who said the same of Trump and 61% for the Republican Party.
