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By Sam Stevenson
Associate News Editor
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President Donald Trump’s approval rating with Republicans has taken an eight-point hit since the fall, according to data from a national polling series.
Newsweek contacted the White House via email for comment outside regular working hours.
Republican National Committee (RNC) national press secretary Kiersten Pels told Newsweek that Trump has "lowered prices, secured the border, and ensured workers keep more of their hard-earned pay," adding: "With strong momentum, Republicans are united, energized, and ready to win in the midterms."
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Why It Matters
It signals a measurable softening in GOP support over just more than three months, as overall approval numbers also trended lower in multiple national surveys.
While not a collapse, this slide in GOP approval this early in the cycle could ripple into turnout, candidate recruitment, and party unity—factors that will shape Republicans’ leverage in the 2026 midterms.
What To Know
Republican net approval (the percentage of those who approved minus those who disapproved) of Trump’s job performance dropped from a +90-point rating in October to a +76-point rating in early February, according to two Quinnipiac University national polls.
Quinnipiac’s October 16–20, 2025, national poll reported that 94 percent of self-identified Republican registered voters approved of Trump’s handling of the presidency, 4 percent disapproved, and 2 percent did not know or did not answer.
The survey was based on interviews with 1,327 registered voters and a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, using probability-based random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cellphones.
Quinnipiac’s January 29–February 2, 2026, national poll found 86 percent of self-identified Republican registered voters approved of Trump’s job performance, 10 percent disapproved, and 4 percent did not know or did not answer.
That poll was based on interviews with 1,191 registered voters and a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points, using the same probability-based methodology with live interviewers on landlines and cellphones.
Trump still enjoys overwhelming Republican support, but the latest Quinnipiac numbers show something that rarely happens: noticeable movement inside a bloc that has long appeared locked in place.
For most of the last decade, Trump’s support among Republicans has been one of the most stable indicators in national polling—a defining feature of the party’s internal dynamics and a key factor in shaping the broader electoral map. Movement of this scale, even from an already‑high starting point, is notable because GOP approval has traditionally been resistant to short‑term shocks.
Overall, in the early February poll, 37 percent of registered voters approved of Trump’s job performance and 56 percent disapproved, giving a net approval rating of -19 points—his lowest ever recorded for his second term with this particular pollster.
On issues, 39 percent approved of Trump’s handling of the economy (56 percent disapproved), 38 percent approved on immigration (59 percent disapproved), and 37 percent approved on foreign policy (58 percent disapproved).
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What People Are Saying
RNC national press secretary Kiersten Pels told Newsweek: “Since returning to office, President Trump has lowered prices, secured the border, and ensured workers keep more of their hard-earned pay. Across the country, voters are seeing Republicans focus on jobs, public safety, and the cost of living—the issues that matter most to families.
“It’s why 73 percent of voters disapprove of how Democrats in Congress are doing their job. President Trump and Republicans are delivering real results, while Democrats continue to prioritize illegal immigrants and chaos over American families. With strong momentum, Republicans are united, energized, and ready to win in the midterms.”
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly previously told Newsweek: "President Donald Trump took office with a resounding mandate from the nearly 80 million Americans who voted for him to secure our border, end Joe Biden’s inflation crisis, remove criminal illegal aliens from our streets, and restore American Greatness both at home and abroad.
"He has firmly cemented his legacy as the Peace President, having ended eight wars and counting and saving millions of lives. He is delivering on his promises, and the American people remain firmly aligned with the President’s agenda to Make America Great Again, regardless of the Mainstream Media’s so-called polling."
Trump posted on Truth Social this week: "The highest Poll Numbers I have ever received. Obviously, people like a strong and powerful Country, with the best economy, EVER!"
Republican pollster Daron Shaw said last month: "The president faces two difficult obstacles—the virtually unanimous and intractable opposition of Democrats and the stubbornness of high prices."
What Happens Next
Analysts and campaigns will watch whether Republican approval stabilizes or continues to drift, particularly as economic perceptions and high-profile events shape views heading into the 2026 midterm cycle.
Update 02/06/26, 11:22 a.m. ET. This article was updated with a statement from the RNC.
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