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By Anna Commander
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President Donald Trump's approval rating is 12 percent higher than Democrats in Congress, a new poll from Gallup released on Monday showed.
Why It Matters
Approval ratings for public officials serve as a potentially crucial barometer of public sentiment, especially in an election cycle marked by economic anxieties and political turmoil.
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As Trump continues in his second term, his approval rating currently outpaces that of Democrats and Republicans in Congress. This dynamic could possibly shape the Republican Party's efforts to maintain control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, especially amid widespread dissatisfaction with political leadership and concerns about the state of the economy.
According to Gallup, only 24 percent of Americans are satisfied with the direction of the country, reflecting a deep sense of unease after the longest federal government shutdown in history and persistent affordability challenges.
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What To Know
According to the poll, Trump's approval rating is 36 percent, matching his second-term low with the pollster. This figure is more than 10 percentage points higher than the approval rating for Democrats in Congress, which sits at a historic low of 24 percent. Republicans in Congress are slightly more popular, with a 29 percent approval rating.
The poll shows that Republicans in Congress have scored a lower approval rating in previous polls, "but congressional Democrats’ current rating is lower than any prior Gallup measurement." However, the pollster says: "Historical comparisons are complicated because Gallup has not measured approval of the parties in Congress since February 2020."
Congressional job approval overall remains low at 17 percent, and within their own parties, only 49 percent of Democrats approve of their party's performance in Congress compared to 69 percent of Republicans back theirs, the poll shows.
CNN's Chief Data Analyst Harry Enten previously noted Democrats' lagging numbers, citing another poll last week on X: "Cong Dems now have a -55 net approval, an all-time low & lower than the Dead Sea. 2 causes: Dems gives them a -6 pt net approval(!), & they're at -61 pts with indies! The effect? Dems lead on the generic ballot is less than half of what it was at this pt in the 06 & 18 cycles."
What People Are Saying
Columbia University professor Robert Y. Shapiro told Newsweek via email on Monday: "This is the continuing bad news on health care subsidies, steady high prices, the Epstein documents and the seeming cover-up, and the bombing of boats allegedly carrying drugs is more disruption and not helping, and the same for the ICE arrests of people who are far from violent criminals."
President Donald Trump on Truth Social on Friday: "Democrats Approval numbers in Congress are the Worst Ever - Negative 55 Points! Harry Enten."
What Happens Next
The months ahead could see continued volatility in presidential and congressional approval ratings as economic pressures persist and the 2026 midterm elections approach.
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