Trump’s Job Approval Falls to 33%, Lowest of His Presidency in Reuters/Ipsos Poll

Fresh Reuters/Ipsos polling shows President Trump’s job approval sitting in the low-to-mid 30s for months, signaling a broad voter warning about Washington’s direction.

Story Snapshot

Reuters/Ipsos polls through 2026 show Trump’s approval often near 33% to 36%.
Reuters labeled 33% as the lowest level of Trump’s presidency in August 2026.
Approval fell from about 47% at the start of Trump’s second term, per Reuters’ review.
Approval measures job performance, not general likability or vote choice, Ipsos notes.

What The New Polling Shows About Trump’s Standing

Reuters/Ipsos national polls in spring and summer 2026 placed President Trump’s job approval between 33% and 36%. April waves found 36% and 34% approval. May measured 35%. A late August reading held at 33%, which Reuters called the lowest point of his presidency. These results point to a sustained stretch of weak national support for his job performance, not a single outlier poll. Field dates varied, but the toplines clustered in the same range.

Reuters reported on March 24 that a nationwide online survey of 1,272 adults showed 36% approval and 64% disapproval, with a three-point margin of error. Later updates tracked declines toward the low 30s as the year went on. A separate August 3 report marked 35%, within a point of his term low. The August 31 reading again showed 33%, reinforcing that the weak level persisted for weeks near the end of summer.

Why “Approval” And “Popular” Are Not The Same Thing

Polling experts explain that a presidential approval rating measures views on job performance, not whether people like the person or would vote for them. Ipsos’ materials describe approval as a specific question about how the president is doing the job. That helps explain heated debate over claims that the president is or is not “popular.” A leader can have strong backing within a party, yet still post low national approval if independents and the other party disapprove.

Reuters’ May 1 review said Trump’s approval had fallen from about 47% at the start of his second term to the mid-30s, and February polling showed it hovering near 40% earlier in the year. The broad pattern is stability at weak levels, with small moves tied to events like rising prices and conflict abroad. Through 2026, Reuters’ framing emphasized that several readings were the lowest or near-lowest marks of his term, underscoring the depth of discontent.

What Might Be Driving The Numbers

Reuters linked approval dips to cost-of-living stress and the war with Iran in multiple updates. One March survey tied a new 36% low to fuel price pain during the conflict. Another April poll described mounting worries about leadership temperament. These factors line up with frustrations felt across the spectrum: many conservatives blame government spending and policy drift, while many liberals cite social cuts and a harsher tone. Both sides see Washington failing to deliver.

Americans who feel shut out by elites and entrenched interests view these numbers as proof that the system is not listening. Low approval for a sitting president, even with unified party control of Congress, suggests voters do not think Washington’s answers match daily life. That includes rising bills, border and security concerns, and global instability. Approval is not destiny, but it is a signal. Leaders ignore it at their own risk when faith in institutions is already thin.