Trump enters perilous polling territory, raising questions over base support
Key takeaways
- The results mark one of the sharpest polling collapses of any modern president.
- It has also led pollsters to question long-standing assumptions about the president’s floor of support, wondering whether it is at risk of giving way.
- Voices Commentary: Springsteen, Trump and two very different music events.
President Trump, shown Tuesday departing Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, has hit a polling low point. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) By Michael Wilner and Ana Ceballos May 31, 2026 3 AM PT 4 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
WASHINGTON — Mired in a persistent cost of living crisis and an unpopular war with Iran, President Trump reached a perilous milestone last week, registering an approval rating of 34% in a top-tier poll — a record low less than halfway through his second term.
The results mark one of the sharpest polling collapses of any modern president. The data, from the Economist and YouGov, brings Trump back down to his political nadir, matching a number he hasn’t seen since the immediate aftermath of the Jan. 6 attack five years ago.