President Trump's approval rating has plummeted to a new low in a fresh survey, with just over two weeks remaining before voters decide control of Congress. The Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll, released Sunday, places Trump's approval at 33%—a four-point drop from July's reading and eight points below where he stood at this time last year. It marks the worst approval number of his presidency.
Disapproval is widespread, with 66% of respondents saying they disapprove of his job performance, including 52% who strongly disapprove. The president's struggles come as Democrats hold a clear advantage in the generic congressional ballot: 52% of likely voters back the Democratic candidate in their district, versus 44% for the Republican. Among registered voters, the margin is 50% to 42% in favor of Democrats.
The survey also reveals a significant enthusiasm gap. Among those who said they are uncertain about voting next month or have already voted early, 56% supported Democrats, while 43% backed Republicans. Additionally, a majority of voters who cast ballots in both 2022 and 2024—50%—say they lean Democratic, compared with 47% leaning Republican.
Economic anxiety is a central driver of voter discontent. Nearly half of voters (48%) say they are financially worse off than when Trump returned to the White House—the highest percentage recorded by this polling partnership since 1986. Three-quarters of respondents rated the economy as "not so good" or "poor," a one-point increase from 2022 and a stark reversal from 2018, when 65% called the economy "excellent" or "good."
The president's struggles extend to his party. Only 33% of registered voters trust Republicans more on the economy, compared with 40% who trust Democrats. Both parties remain deeply unpopular, with 54% holding unfavorable views of the Democratic Party and 63% viewing the GOP unfavorably. Notably, 55% of respondents say the Republican Party is too extreme, while 36% say the same about Democrats.
Trump has urged voters to "pretend I'm on the ballot" and has promised $5,000 to every U.S. adult if Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the administration's economic record, saying on Sunday that the administration "will own this economy."
Persistent concerns about the cost of living and rising gas prices—tied to the ongoing Iran war, which has been broadly unpopular since it began on Feb. 28—continue to weigh on the public mood. The poll was conducted Oct. 9-13 among 2,545 respondents, with a margin of error of 2 percentage points.
The findings come amid broader political turbulence, including Trump's defense of a Russia sanctions waiver and his endorsement of Netanyahu, which have drawn criticism from both parties. As the midterms approach, the president's sinking approval and economic pessimism could prove decisive.
