Kathrine Frich
A solid 59 percent of voters actively disapprove of his performance.
When politicians hit a rough patch, they often try to paint a rosy picture for their supporters.
A confident message can sometimes mask a difficult reality. But when the cold, hard numbers become public, a very different story usually emerges.
Claiming a big win
President Donald Trump recently went online to celebrate his public standing. He used his Truth Social platform on Saturday to broadcast a highly optimistic message to his core followers.
“Great Poll Numbers. Thank You!!! President DJT,” Trump wrote.
The president chose not to name the specific survey he was referencing. According to a recent report by HuffPost, this omission makes sense given the current political landscape.
Most major surveys paint a grim picture of his public support. The data shows his approval ratings are actually dropping to historic lows, completely contradicting his weekend statement.
Looking at the data
Recent polling averages compiled by The New York Times place Trump’s approval at just 38 percent. Meanwhile, a solid 59 percent of voters actively disapprove of his performance.
Other organizations show an even steeper decline. An Associated Press and NORC poll from late July recorded his approval rating at a mere 33 percent, highlighting a massive disconnect with voters.
The New York Times data indicates a sharp downward trend that began in late February. This timeline aligns directly with the start of the joint military campaign against Iran by the United States and Israel.
Another alarming metric surfaced in late July from CNN. Their poll tracked his approval at 34 percent, which perfectly matches the worst rating he received during his first term immediately after the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.
Historical comparisons
Second terms are notoriously difficult for modern presidents. However, Trump is currently underperforming almost all of his recent predecessors, struggling to find a solid floor of support.
During a period of high inflation in 2022, Joe Biden held a 37 percent approval rating, according to the Pew Research Center.
George W. Bush faced similar struggles during the Iraq War in 2006. Gallup recorded his approval at 37 percent shortly before his party suffered massive losses in the midterm elections, handing control of Congress to the Democrats.
Barack Obama managed to avoid these deep historical lows. Data from the Pew Research Center shows he maintained a 44 percent approval rating at this exact point in his presidency.
Sources: HuffPost, The New York Times, Associated Press, NORC.
