President Donald Trump's approval rating has dropped to a career low of 32%, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll, with Latino voters turning sharply against the administration a month before the midterm elections that will determine control of Congress.
The poll, released Monday, shows the president losing ground among independents and Latino voters—two groups that backed him in 2024. A separate NBC News/Telemundo poll released Sunday found that 59% of Latino voters now prefer a Democratic-controlled Congress, double the share that supported the party two years ago. Just 24% of Hispanic Americans approve of Trump's performance, according to that survey.
Asked about the numbers before boarding a flight to Nebraska on Monday, Trump shrugged off the question. "I'm doing great," he told a reporter, before blaming CNN and the media for the negative coverage.
The president has been campaigning across the country for Republican candidates, but even in conservative states polls show support slipping. Some Republican lawmakers have begun to distance themselves from Trump on issues such as immigration as they try to hold onto local support.
The dip in approval comes as Americans express dissatisfaction with the economy, the ongoing war with Iran, and other issues linked to the administration. The midterm elections are now four weeks away.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The midterms will decide whether Republicans maintain control of Congress or Democrats take one or both chambers, reshaping Trump's final two years in office.
- The sharp decline in Latino support signals a potential realignment of a key voting bloc that could affect future elections at all levels.
- Approval ratings this low historically spell heavy losses for the president's party in midterm elections.
Background
Trump won the 2024 election partly on the strength of improved performance among Latino voters, particularly working-class men. The midterm elections are typically a referendum on the sitting president, and with a month to go, the Republican party is facing headwinds from multiple directions: a slowing economy, an unpopular war with Iran, and voter fatigue with the administration's agenda.
Key Perspectives
The Trump administration: The president dismisses the polls as media manipulation and continues to campaign aggressively for Republican candidates, betting that his base will turn out despite broader discontent.
Latino voters: Polling shows a dramatic swing toward Democrats, driven by concerns over immigration policy, economic pressures, and the administration's tone on Hispanic issues. This group may be decisive in several battleground House districts.
Republican candidates: Some are trying to create distance from the president on specific policies while still welcoming his campaigning. The tension between national brand and local appeal is growing as election day approaches.
What to Watch
- Further polling in the final weeks, especially in swing districts with large Latino populations.
- Whether any prominent Republicans openly break with Trump on immigration or Iran policy.
- Voter turnout on election day, particularly whether the president can turn out his base despite low national approval.