Trump Approval Falls to 33% in New Poll Ahead of Midterms

Caption: Donald Trump, October 2026. Credit: Molly Riley, White House / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 33% in a new ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll, down from 37% in July. The survey also finds a wider Democratic advantage in national House preferences as the November 3 midterms approach.

Among U.S. adults, 66% disapprove of Trump’s performance, up from 61% in July; 52% now strongly disapprove. The findings were released October 18.

The House preference gap has widened

Among registered voters, Democrats lead 50% to 42% on the national House question. In July’s comparable registered-voter results, the parties stood at 48% and 45%.

The new poll’s likely-voter result is 52% Democratic and 44% Republican. The survey also finds a participation gap: 72% of Democratic voters and 65% of Republican voters say they are absolutely certain to vote, ABC reported.

Household costs weigh on Trump’s ratings

Trump’s approval on handling the economy was 28%, compared with 33% in July. Disapproval on that issue rose from 65% to 70%. On the cost of living, 21% approved and 77% disapproved.

Asked about affordability, 71% described gasoline as unaffordable, compared with 28% in February. The share calling healthcare unaffordable rose from 56% to 65% over the same period.

Sixty percent called groceries unaffordable, above February’s 45% but below July’s 66%. Forty-eight percent said they were financially worse off than when Trump returned to office.

The survey also finds Democrats more trusted than Republicans to handle the economy, by nine percentage points, according to ABC. That advantage comes despite unfavorable views of both parties: 54% view Democrats unfavorably and 63% view Republicans unfavorably. The Democratic Party’s favorable rating is 44%, compared with 35% for Republicans.

The probability-based Ipsos KnowledgePanel survey interviewed 2,545 adults October 9-13. Sampling error is plus or minus two points overall, 2.2 points for registered- and likely-voter estimates, and 2.8 points for the half-sample cost-of-living question. National House preferences are not a seat forecast: control will be decided in individual district elections November 3.

References: Democrats lead Republicans in House vote choice as Trump’s approval rating hits record low: ABC/Post/Ipsos poll | ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos October 2026 Poll | Topline 10.18