Trump approval hits new low at 60% ahead of US midterms, poll finds – Firstpost

Ahead of the November midterm elections, approval ratings for US President Donald Trump have fallen to a new low, with 60 per cent of adults in the US disapproving of his performance, according to a new survey.

The poll by The Washington Post, ABC News and Ipsos found that 60 per cent of respondents disapprove of the president, while 39 per cent approve, giving him a net approval rating of minus 21 percentage points.

The survey of 2,589 adults was conducted between February 12 and 17 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

Lowest rating of second term

According to Newsweek, pollsters said the 60 per cent disapproval level is the highest recorded since the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot at the end of Trump’s first term, marking the lowest approval rating of his second term so far.

Midterm context

The ratings come as voters prepare for the midterm elections, which could reshape the balance of power nationally. Although Trump is not on the ballot, the vote is widely seen as a public assessment of his presidency.

The figures were released ahead of Trump’s State of the Union address, where he is expected to face growing public concern over his priorities and policies, according to a separate poll by CNN conducted with SSRS.

Economy top voter concern

The poll found that 57 per cent of Republicans want Trump to focus on the economy and the cost of living in his address, far exceeding interest in other issues such as immigration, democracy, healthcare, crime or foreign policy. Half of Democrats, 56 per cent of independents and 65 per cent of Republicans also said economic issues should be a key focus.

One Republican respondent from New Mexico said voters expected economic relief, citing high grocery prices and rising living costs, and urged the president to outline what actions he has already taken.