Why Trump’s plummeting approval ratings are even worse than they look

Aug. 20, 2026, 6:00 AM EDT Two recent polls show that President Donald Trump’s approval ratings are dropping as low as they ever have for him. But more striking still are signs that his hardcore base is dissipating — which could affect turnout in the midterm elections and render the MAGA brand less potent over time. A Reuters/Ipsos poll of adults conducted between Aug. 14-17 found that 33% approved of Trump’s performance and 64% disapproved. As Reuters noted in its write-up of the survey, “Trump’s approval rating, down from 35% in a poll that closed earlier this month and ​lower than at any point in his current term, has now tied the lowest level of his prior term reached in December 2017.” There are signs that the accumulated discontent is not just hurting Trump with Americans overall but