President Trump is scheduled to appear on NBC's Meet the Press Sunday following a week that saw his approval ratings reach new lows. The interview comes as midterm elections approach and tensions between the president and Senate Republicans have spilled into public view.
Multiple recent polls show Trump's overall approval rating has dropped significantly. According to Reuters-Ipsos, Strength in Numbers-Verasight and AP-NORC surveys, the president's approval hovered in the mid-30s, ranging from 33% to 36%. An NBC News poll found his personal approval rating at 37%, with 63% disapproving, marking a second-term low.
The economy remains a critical weakness. An AP-NORC poll found that Trump's handling of the economy fell to just 30% approval, down from 38% in March. Only 23% approve of how he is handling the cost of living, while 76% disapprove. Seven in 10 Americans described the economy as poor and believe the country is headed in the wrong direction.
Trump's signature immigration policies are also creating political headwinds for Republican candidates. A Reuters-Ipsos poll found that 52% of Americans said they were less likely to support a candidate who backs Trump's approach to deportations, compared to just 42% who said they were more likely to support such a candidate. Support for his immigration policy has dropped from 50% in the weeks after his January 2025 inauguration to 40% currently. The divide is even sharper among independent voters, with 57% preferring candidates who oppose Trump's deportation approach.
Foreign policy challenges compound these problems. Two-thirds of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of the war with Iran, with only one-third approving. A majority of 61% said the US should not take any further military action in Iran.
Despite these broad struggles, Trump maintains significant support among his party base. The NBC poll found that 83% of Republicans still approve of Trump, though this represents a 4-point decline from earlier in the year. Among Republicans, 52% strongly approve of his economic handling, down from 58% previously.
The political landscape presents stark challenges for Republican candidates defending their congressional majorities. Two-thirds of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track, compared to just one-third who believe it is moving in the right direction. The economy continues to be the top issue for voters at 29%, followed by threats to democracy at 24%.
There is one area where Trump and Republicans find stronger support. Three-quarters of Americans support government-issued photo ID requirements for voting, and 61% believe such documents should include proof of citizenship.
As Trump prepares for his Sunday interview, these polling numbers underscore the political headwinds his party faces in the approaching midterm elections.