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By Anna Commander
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President Donald Trump's approval rating has hit a new low in his second term, a poll from research firm Leger shows this week.
Why It Matters
Shifts in approval and disapproval ratings could signal broader erosion and complicate the Republican Party's midterm strategies, especially as multiple trackers show Trump significantly underwater nationally.
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Several recent surveys also recorded record or near‑record lows within key demographics, including men and independent voters, compounding headwinds for the White House amid public concern over inflation and the war with Iran.
What To Know
According to the poll, Trump's approval rating is 35 percent, versus a disapproval rating of 55 percent. Ten percent of respondents had no opinion. The poll was conducted from March 13 to March 16, 2026, among 1,006 Americans, with a margin of error of 3.09 percent.
The poll also shows that Americans in the South approve of the president by 42 percent, compared with 52 percent who disapprove. Male voters approve of the president at 43 percent, compared to 28 percent of female voters. Twenty-seven percent of independent voters approve of the president, and 55 percent disapprove of the way he's handling the presidency, the poll shows.
Previous surveys from the pollster showed Trump's approval rating at 39 percent in October, 38 and 39 percent in September, and 37 percent in July.
Trump's dipping approval rating comes amid the war with Iran. Recent approval ratings show mixed reactions, as a poll from the conservative-leaning Trafalgar Group found he has a net positive in the double digits. In a poll from The Economist and YouGov on Tuesday, Trump's approval rating on Iran is 36 percent, and his disapproval rating is 56 percent.
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What People Are Saying
Columbia University professor Robert Y. Shapiro told Newsweek on Wednesday: "At this point we need to be cautious about commenting on any one poll. The averages for Trump have gone down since he has been in office but have then been holding up overall -- at the low 40's in approval -- because of his still solid base. However, he may be at an inflection point in that there is softness now in his MAGA base and among other Republicans who have not reacted favorably toward his going to war with Iran. The new poll showing a new low is suggestive but needs to be confirmed by other polls."
President Donald Trump said on Truth Social in February: "Record Stock Market, and National Security, driven by our Great TARIFFS. I am predicting 100,000 on the DOW by the end of my Term. REMEMBER, TRUMP WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING! I hope the United States Supreme Court is watching."
CNN Chief Data Analyst Harry Enten said on X on Wednesday: "There's no break in MAGA. Trump's approval with MAGA GOP is literally 100%. 90% of MAGA GOP approve of US military action in Iran. Those who disapprove of Trump are not MAGA at this point. Importantly: MAGA makes up the same share of voters as it did when Trump won in 2024."
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