Trump Approval Rating Falls to 29% in New Poll as Economic Concerns Intensify
President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 29% in a new national survey, marking the lowest result recorded for him by American Research Group in its polling of his presidency and highlighting growing dissatisfaction over the economy and cost of living.
The American Research Group survey, conducted September 16-20 among 1,100 U.S. adults, found 29% approving of Trump’s job performance and 68% disapproving. Approval of his handling of the economy was lower, at 26%.
The result comes as Americans continue to face elevated gasoline and grocery prices and as the administration confronts criticism over economic conditions.
At the same time, the 29% figure should not be treated as a definitive measure of Trump’s standing by itself. Other recent surveys have produced higher approval numbers. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted over a similar period put Trump’s overall approval at 32%, while other recent polling has generally placed him in the 30s or higher.
American Research Group Survey Shows Sharp Decline
The latest American Research Group survey represents a decline from the firm’s previous results.
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American Research Group had recorded Trump’s approval at 30% in surveys conducted in June and August, according to polling databases tracking the firm’s presidential approval surveys. Its June survey of 1,100 adults found 30% approval and 66% disapproval.
The September survey therefore places Trump’s approval one percentage point below the firm’s previous 2026 reading.
The poll’s 29% approval figure is accompanied by a 68% disapproval rating, producing a 39-point gap between the two measures.
Economy Emerges as a Major Concern
Economic sentiment was particularly negative in the survey.
Only 26% of respondents approved of Trump’s handling of the economy, while 72% said they believed economic conditions were getting worse.
The results come during a period of elevated energy costs. Gasoline and diesel prices have risen substantially amid the continuing conflict involving Iran and disruptions to regional energy supplies, adding pressure to household budgets.
A separate Reuters/Ipsos survey conducted shortly before the American Research Group poll found that only 17% of respondents approved of Trump’s handling of the cost of living. That survey also found that economic concerns were particularly significant among voters heading into the November midterm elections.
Other Polls Show a Higher Approval Rating
The American Research Group result is considerably lower than some other recent national surveys.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted September 18-20 found Trump with 32% approval and 65% disapproval among U.S. adults. Its sample included 1,277 respondents and had a margin of error of approximately three percentage points.
That difference illustrates why individual presidential approval polls should be interpreted cautiously. Surveys can produce different results because of differences in field dates, samples, weighting procedures, question wording and methodology.
The 29% American Research Group result is therefore better understood as one measurement of public opinion rather than evidence that Trump’s approval is uniformly at that level nationwide.
The 2008 Comparison
The latest result has also drawn comparisons with the final months of George W. Bush’s presidency.
Bush’s approval ratings fell sharply during the 2008 financial crisis, with Gallup recording readings in the 20s late in his presidency.
The comparison is historical rather than a direct measure of the political environment today. Different polling organizations, methodologies and circumstances make comparisons between presidential approval numbers across different administrations imperfect.
What the Numbers Do — and Do Not — Show
The latest polling provides evidence of substantial dissatisfaction with Trump’s job performance and particularly with economic conditions.
It does not, however, establish how those views will translate into voting behavior in the November midterms. Approval surveys measure respondents’ assessments of a president at a particular point in time, while election results depend on candidates, turnout, issues, local races and other factors.
The polling also shows why looking at multiple surveys is important. American Research Group’s 29% result is notably lower than the 32% recorded in the latest Reuters/Ipsos survey and other recent national measurements.
For now, the most consistent finding across several surveys is that economic and cost-of-living concerns remain significant components of public dissatisfaction with the administration, while the exact level of Trump’s overall approval varies considerably from poll to poll.
What to Watch Next
Additional national polling in the coming weeks will provide more information about whether the American Research Group result represents a temporary low point or is part of a broader movement in presidential approval.
Among the indicators to watch are Trump’s ratings on the economy and cost of living, changes in Republican approval, and whether other polling organizations report similar movements.
With the midterm elections approaching, those measurements will provide a clearer picture of how Americans currently view the administration, while still remaining distinct from forecasts of election outcomes.
Benjamin Harris is a RapidReports front page contributor and editor,proud father of four.
