Trump’s Numbers Tank Nationwide. Mississippi Has Other Plans.
Trump’s Approval Ratings Hit Record Lows Nationally and in Mississippi
Quick Take: Recent polls show more Americans disapprove of President Trump’s job performance than ever before during his two terms. Even Mississippi—one of his strongest states—has seen a dramatic shift.
What the National Polls Say
Several major polling organizations released new data in late July 2026. Here’s the snapshot:
| Pollster | Approve | Disapprove | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quinnipiac University | 32% | 58% | July 29 |
| AP-NORC | 33% | 66% | July 30 |
| New York Times Average | 38% | 59% | Aug 3 |
| Reuters/Ipsos | 37% | 61% | July 24–25 |
| Civiqs (National) | 36% | 59% | Aug 1 |
| Fox News | 39% | 31% | July 17–20 |
Important Note: Different polls use different methods and sample groups. That’s why numbers vary. The trend matters more than any single number.
Issue-by-Issue Breakdown (Quinnipiac Poll)
Americans don’t just disapprove overall—they disapprove on specific issues:
- Immigration: 57% disapprove
- Trade & Tariffs: 58% disapprove
- Economy: 62% disapprove
- Foreign Policy: 62% disapprove
- Iran Policy: 66% disapprove
Mississippi: A Bellwether Shift
Mississippi has long been one of President Trump’s strongest states. Not anymore.
The Numbers (Civiqs Tracking Poll)
| Metric | Current | Record? |
|---|---|---|
| Approval | 46% | Lowest ever |
| Disapproval | 48% | Highest ever |
| No Opinion | ~5% | — |
How We Got Here
- January 2025 (Start of Term): 55% approve / 42% disapprove
- Most of 2025–Early 2026: Both sides inched closer, roughly mirrored
- Early June 2026: Disapproval edged above approval for the first time
- Since June: Steady decline in approval, steady rise in disapproval
First Term Comparison (2017–2021)
- Approval range: 52% – 56%
- Disapproval range: 41% – 45%
Key Insight: Mississippi voters are now nearly evenly split—a massive change from the double-digit leads Trump enjoyed in his first term.
Job Approval vs. Personal Favorability
These are two different things:
| Measure | What It Asks | National (Civiqs, July 31) | Mississippi (Civiqs) | YouGov (July 13) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job Approval | "Do you like how he’s doing his job?" | 36% approve / 59% disapprove | 46% / 48% | — |
| Favorability | "Do you like him as a person?" | 38% favorable / 58% unfavorable | Mirrors national | 42.3% / 56.8% |
ELI5: You can think someone is doing a bad job but still like them personally—or vice versa. These polls measure both.
Why This Matters
- Midterm elections (November 2026) are approaching. Low approval often hurts the president’s party.
- Mississippi flipping signals broader erosion in "safe" Republican territory.
- Issue-specific disapproval (economy, foreign policy) suggests policy-driven dissatisfaction, not just personality.
Summary
- National approval sits in the low-to-mid 30s—record lows for Trump’s second term.
- Majorities disapprove on every major issue tested (economy, immigration, Iran, trade, foreign policy).
- Mississippi, a longtime stronghold, now shows 46% approve / 48% disapprove—a historic crossover.
- Favorability tracks similarly: more Americans view Trump unfavorably than favorably.
- Multiple pollsters using different methods show the same downward trend.
FAQ
1. Why do different polls show different numbers?
Each pollster uses different methods: phone vs. online, sample size, weighting, question wording. That’s why experts look at averages and trends, not single polls.
2. What is Civiqs and how is it different?
Civiqs runs continuous online tracking polls with large samples. It updates frequently and shows trends over time, not just snapshots.
3. Does low approval mean Trump will lose in 2028?
Not necessarily. Approval ratings fluctuate. But historically, low approval in a president’s second term correlates with losses for their party in midterms and beyond.
4. Why did Mississippi change so much?
The data shows a gradual shift since April 2026, accelerating in June. Possible factors: economic concerns, foreign policy events, or national trends trickling down.
5. What’s the difference between "approval" and "favorability"?
Approval = "Is he doing a good job as president?"
Favorability = "Do I like him personally?"
They often move together but can diverge.
Source: Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY Network reporting (Aug 4, 2026). Poll data from Quinnipiac University, AP-NORC, New York Times, Fox News, Reuters/Ipsos, Civiqs, YouGov.