Public approval of President Donald Trump’s job performance has continued to deteriorate across the country and within key states such as South Carolina as the 2026 midterm election season moves into its critical autumn phase. A series of newly released public opinion surveys conducted by prominent nonpartisan and media polling institutions indicate that a substantial majority of Americans currently disapprove of the administration's trajectory.
The downward shift in public standing comes at a precarious moment for the administration and its allies, who are navigating an increasingly complex political landscape shaped by persistent economic pressures and escalating international concerns. Recent data demonstrates that the president's net approval rating has sunk deeply into negative territory across virtually every major national tracking instrument.
Among the latest findings, a survey conducted by Ipsos in conjunction with Reuters revealed that only 33% of respondents approved of the president's handling of his duties, compared to 63% who expressed disapproval. The poll, which surveyed 1,167 adult respondents nationwide, registered a net approval score of -30 percentage points, with pocketbook matters and the broader cost of living serving as primary drivers of voter sentiment.
A parallel evaluation released by the American Research Group yielded similarly bleak numbers for the administration. In that survey of 1,100 adults, Trump's approval dropped to 30%, while disapproval climbed to 66%, producing a net deficit of -36 percentage points. The figures represent some of the most pronounced disapproval margins recorded during this polling cycle.
Slightly higher figures were observed in an Emerson College survey of 1,000 adults, where Trump registered a 40% approval rating against a 56% disapproval rating. While demonstrating a somewhat narrower gap than other contemporary studies, the resulting net rating of -16 percentage points still underscores widespread resistance among the national electorate.
Similarly, a national poll conducted by Marquette University Law School found that 40% of surveyed adults approved of Trump’s presidential performance, while 60% disapproved, establishing a net negative rating of -20 percentage points. Analysis accompanying the Marquette survey of 1,076 respondents highlighted that ongoing voter anxiety surrounding inflation and economic stability continues to exert significant downward pressure on the administration's marks.
Foreign policy developments and military engagements have also weighed heavily on public perception. A study by the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, which questioned 1,165 adults, recorded a 33% approval rating and a 66% disapproval rating, equating to a net rating of -33 percentage points. The survey reflected substantial public skepticism regarding foreign entanglements and rising conflict in the Middle East, particularly involving Iran.
The trend of two-to-one disapproval was further reinforced by a CNN/SSRS poll consisting of 1,225 adult participants. That inquiry found 34% of respondents expressing approval alongside 66% indicating disapproval, settling at a net approval rating of -32 percentage points as midterm dynamics increasingly take center stage.
In another major assessment, Quinnipiac University surveyed 963 adults and found an approval rating of 32%, contrasted with a 58% disapproval rating, culminating in a net rating of -26 percentage points. Across all seven major recent surveys, disapproval of the administration has consistently outpaced approval by double-digit margins.
The national slump in popularity has also reverberated through South Carolina, traditionally a reliable bastion of support. In the Palmetto State, where key congressional and state races are underway, slipping presidential numbers have complicated the political environment for local candidates seeking to align with the White House.
President Trump has maintained an active presence in the state, including an appearance on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. During the event, the president campaigned alongside U.S. Sen. Darline Graham in an effort to energize the conservative base ahead of the upcoming general election.
However, signs of intra-party caution have emerged alongside the declining poll figures. Prominent figures within the state's congressional delegation, including U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, have previously declined to commit to campaigning directly alongside Graham, pointing to broader strategic deliberations as candidates assess the political climate.
Following the late-August primary and campaign events, media and political observers gathered on August 25 in Columbia at the Willoughby, Humphrey and D’Antonio Law Firm Building for election night proceedings, underscoring the heightened scrutiny surrounding South Carolina's pivotal races.
With the November midterm elections drawing closer, the sustained negative margins in national and statewide polling present a formidable challenge for the administration. As voter dissatisfaction regarding economic conditions and foreign affairs continues to dominate public discourse, candidates on the ballot face an increasingly difficult road in defending the administration's platform.
(0)