President Donald Trump's approval among independent voters has dropped to unprecedented lows throughout his time in office, according to a recent Economist/YouGov poll conducted between January 23 and 26. The survey captures a clear signal of eroding support ahead of the midterm elections, which traditionally serve as a barometer for the sitting president's political strength.
This particular poll reveals that only 27 percent of independents express approval of Trump's performance in office, while a substantial 67 percent disapprove, resulting in a net rating of negative 40 percentage points. This figure signifies a notable decline from a net minus 31 reading just one week prior, as well as down from minus 28 earlier in January, marking this as the weakest independent voter stance witnessed during either of Trump's two terms.
Broadening the scope to national approval, the poll places Trump's overall rating at 39 percent in favor, with 57 percent disapproval nationwide. Approval among Republicans remains significantly high, with 85 percent supporting his job performance against 13 percent disapproval, yielding a net positive 72 points. Conversely, Democrats register overwhelming opposition, showing only 6 percent approval against 92 percent disapproval, translating into a net negative 86.
Experts caution, however, that week-to-week fluctuations may not definitively indicate long-term trends. Allen Houston, a pollster with YouGov, advised against overinterpreting the recent decline, noting the difficulty in separating enduring shifts in independent voter sentiment from normal survey variation within short timeframes.
Additional national polls from other organizations align closely with these findings. For instance, a New York Times/Siena College survey released on January 22 showed a 40 percent approval rate and a 56 percent disapproval rate for Trump's job performance. In a separate CNN/SSRS poll, overall approval registered at 39 percent, with only 29 percent of independents expressing support. These similar results underscore a broader pattern of restrained presidential approval as the midterm elections approach.
The prevailing political climate is marked by ongoing concerns about inflation and the cost of living, issues that continue to weigh heavily on voter attitudes. Affordability pressures and tariff policies have contributed to these apprehensions, posing challenges to sustaining or improving presidential favorability, despite concurrent upward movements in stock market indices.
Further complicating Trump's standing is a renewed spotlight on immigration enforcement policies, particularly in Minnesota, where federal agents have been involved in fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis in recent weeks. Public sentiment appears to be shifting as well, with a Reuters/Ipsos poll indicating 58 percent of Americans feel Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has exceeded appropriate limits. Correspondingly, Trump's approval in regard to immigration policies has dipped to 39 percent.
In response to these poll outcomes and criticism, President Trump has dismissed certain surveys as