Trump’s Lead Evaporates in New Polls—Wait Until You See Mississippi
Trump’s Approval Ratings Hit Record Lows: What the Latest Polls Show
Published: August 4, 2026 | Source: Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY Network
The Big Picture: Americans Are Increasingly Unhappy
Imagine a report card for the President. Instead of grades like A, B, or C, pollsters ask thousands of people: "Do you approve or disapprove of the job the President is doing?"
Right now, that report card looks pretty rough for President Donald Trump. Multiple major polls show his approval rating has dropped to the lowest point of his entire presidency—both terms combined.
National Polls: The Numbers Don’t Lie
Here’s what the biggest, most trusted polls are saying as of late July/early August 2026:
| 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 |
KEY TAKEAWAY: Most polls show about 6 in 10 Americans disapprove of Trump’s job performance. The Fox News poll is a notable outlier, showing a much closer split.
Mississippi: A Republican Stronghold Shows Cracks
Mississippi has been one of Trump’s best states. He won it easily in 2016, 2020, and 2024. But even there, the ground is shifting.
The Mississippi Trend (Civiqs Data)
| Time Period | Approve | Disapprove | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start of 2nd Term (Jan 2025) | 55% | 42% | Strong support |
| Most of 2025 | ~50% | ~45% | Gap narrowing |
| Early June 2026 | <50% | >50% | Disapproval passes approval for first time |
| August 2026 | 46% | 48% | Lowest approval / Highest disapproval EVER recorded in MS |
IMPORTANT: For the first time since he took office in 2025, more Mississippians disapprove of Trump than approve. About 5% say they’re not sure.
First Term vs. Second Term in Mississippi
- First Term (2017–2021): Approval 52–56%, Disapproval 41–45%
- Second Term (2025–Now): Started at 55%, now down to 46%
What Issues Are Driving Disapproval? (Quinnipiac Poll)
When asked about specific issues, disapproval numbers get even higher:
| Issue | Disapprove | What This Means (ELI5) |
|---|---|---|
| Iran / Foreign Tensions | 66% | People don’t like how he’s handling talks (or threats) with Iran |
| Economy | 62% | High prices, jobs, taxes—most think he’s doing a bad job |
| Foreign Policy | 62% | How he deals with other countries |
| Trade / Tariffs | 58% | Taxes on imported goods; people think it hurts them |
| Immigration | 57% | Border control, deportations, asylum rules |
NOTE: On every single major issue tested, more people disapprove than approve.
Job Approval vs. Personal Favorability: Two Different Things
Pollsters ask two different questions:
- Job Approval: "Do you like the job he’s doing as President?" (Policy, decisions, results)
- Personal Favorability: "Do you like him as a person?" (Character, personality, vibe)
The Numbers (Late July 2026)
| Metric | Favorable / Approve | Unfavorable / Disapprove | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Favorability | 38% | 58% | Civiqs (July 31) |
| MS Favorability | ~38% | ~58% | Civiqs (mirrors national) |
| National Favorability | 42.3% | 56.8% | YouGov / The Economist (July 13) |
SIMPLE EXPLANATION: Even some people who personally like Trump may disapprove of his job performance. Right now, both numbers are underwater (more negative than positive).
Why Does This Matter? (ELI5 Summary)
- Elections are coming. Midterms in 2026. Low approval = bad for the President’s party.
- Mississippi is a "canary in the coal mine." If he’s losing ground there, he’s in trouble everywhere.
- Congress watches polls. Senators and Representatives may distance themselves if voters are angry.
- Policy gets harder. Low approval makes it tough to pass laws or negotiate with other countries.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What exactly is an "approval rating"?
It’s a percentage from a survey asking: "Do you approve or disapprove of the way [Name] is handling his job as President?" It’s like a popularity contest for his work, not just his personality.
2. Why are there different numbers from different polls?
Different pollsters:
- Ask slightly different questions
- Talk to different groups of people (random phone calls, online panels, texts)
- Use different math ("weighting") to match the real population
- That’s why averages (like NYT’s) are more reliable than any single poll.
3. Is 32% (Quinnipiac) or 33% (AP-NORC) historically bad?
Yes. For context:
- Trump’s previous low was ~35–38% in first term.
- Presidents like Nixon (Watergate), Bush (Katrina/financial crisis), and Biden (2022) hit similar lows.
- It means roughly 2 out of 3 Americans give him a "thumbs down."
4. Why focus on Mississippi? It’s a small, red state.
Exactly because it’s deep red. If a Republican President loses support in Mississippi, it signals broad, national erosion—not just in swing states. It’s an early warning system.
5. Can these numbers change quickly?
Absolutely. A major event (economic boom, crisis, foreign policy win, scandal) can shift numbers 5–10 points in weeks. But the trend here has been steady decline for months, not a sudden drop.
Summary
- National approval is at record lows (low 30s% approve, high 50s–60s% disapprove).
- Mississippi—Trump’s strongest state—just flipped: More people now disapprove (48%) than approve (46%).
- Every major issue (economy, immigration, foreign policy, trade, Iran) has majority disapproval.
- Personal favorability is also underwater nationally and in Mississippi.
- The trend is consistent across 6+ major pollsters using different methods.
- This creates political headwinds for Republicans heading into the 2026 midterms.
Bottom Line: The "report card" is in, and the grades are the worst they’ve ever been—for the nation, and even for his home-base state of Mississippi.
Reporting contributed by Fernando Cervantes Jr., Kinsey Crowley, Terry Collins, Susan Page, Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Miguel Legoas, and Bonnie Bolden (Deep South Connect Reporter, Mississippi).
