President Donald Trump’s job approval rating has fallen to 44%, with 53% of voters disapproving, placing his standing 10 points underwater in the latest Morning Consult public opinion survey.
The decline comes as tensions escalate with Iran and following an address to the nation in which Trump renewed his critiques of the American voting system. His comments arrived alongside survey data showing that voter confidence in elections has reached its highest point of the year.
Roughly two in three voters say they expect the 2026 elections to be free and fair, including nearly identical shares of Democrats (69%) and Republicans (67%). By comparison, voters from the two parties were split by 38 percentage points on that same question at this point in the 2022 cycle.
Voter perspectives on Trump’s handling of foreign policy dropped marginally over the past week as the situation in Iran shifted. National security remains his strongest issue, though Republicans in Congress maintain an edge over Democrats on the topic, leading 45% to 38%.
Public sentiment on the economy fell further into the red, with 39% approving and 53% disapproving, marking Trump’s lowest economic ratings since late May. On general matters, voters reported trusting congressional Democrats over Republicans, 42% to 39%, reflecting a modest gain for Democrats this week.
The survey also measured state-level approval ratings for governors across the country. Vermont Republican Phil Scott emerged as the most popular governor in America with a 71% approval rating, while Iowa Republican Kim Reynolds registered as the most unpopular with a 51% disapproval rating. Nationwide, 45 of 50 governors remain more liked than not, though much of that polling strength rests with leaders who are nearing the end of their terms.
Looking ahead to the 2026 gubernatorial cycle, 18 sitting governors are seeking re-election. Only one is defending a toss-up seat: Nevada Republican Joe Lombardo, who carries a 51% approval rating and 36% disapproval rating. Arizona Democrat Katie Hobbs, whose race recently shifted a notch toward her party, holds a 50% approval rating and 39% disapproval rating in her home state.
The other 16 governors on the ballot this fall are competing in safe states, led by Vermont’s Phil Scott, Connecticut Democrat Ned Lamont, and Pennsylvania Democrat Josh Shapiro, all of whom hold approval ratings from at least three in five voters.
Only two incumbents running on any 2026 ballot hold net-negative approval numbers: Oregon Democrat Tina Kotek and Rhode Island Democrat Dan McKee. Kotek’s standing is weighed down by independents, where 31% approve and 51% disapprove, despite solid support from state Democrats. Oregon currently marks the only rating shift toward Republicans on the 2026 map.
Half of the upcoming gubernatorial contests are open races. Outgoing leaders in several key states leave their parties on solid footing, including Georgia Republican Brian Kemp, Wisconsin Democrat Tony Evers, and Ohio Republican Mike DeWine, who leaves office at 50% approval in a state recently reclassified as a toss-up.
READ: Pennsylvania Sen. Fetterman To Sanders: Humble Yourself And Stop Endorsing The ‘Train Wreck’
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
