Polls released in late February 2026 show a decline in President Donald Trump’s approval ratings across multiple segments of the American electorate, particularly among independent voters, as he prepared to deliver the State of the Union address.
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Data from a Reuters/Ipsos political survey conducted in February reveal that only 32% of Americans agreed that Trump had the right priorities in office, while 68% said he failed to adequately address the country’s most pressing issues. Moreover, 61% of those surveyed believed Trump’s policies would lead the country in the wrong direction, contrasted with 38% who thought they would move it forward.
An independent-focused CNN poll found Trump’s approval rating reached a new low with this group, signaling shrinking bipartisan support. The decline followed a trend seen since early 2025 when another survey indicated voter dissatisfaction intensifying after several contentious policy decisions during Trump’s second term.
Historical tracking from Morning Consult shows Trump started his second term with approval ratings near 52%, matching his highest level from March 2017. However, polling over the past year reveals a steady decrease attributed to reactions against trade policies and other divisive issues. By the start of 2026, the disapproval margin widened significantly nationwide.
In interviews at a White House ceremony, Trump dismissed negative polling as inaccurate and fake polls, citing his 2016 election win as evidence that polls can be wrong. He claimed his actual support was higher than reported but did not provide new data to substantiate that.
Gallup’s February 2026 presidential approval survey recorded approval percentages that reflect the overall national mood of skepticism. Pollsters noted Americans’ views of Trump’s performance remained more negative than positive, consistent with trends observed since the beginning of his second administration.
Additional data compiled by Nate Silver’s polling aggregator confirm these trends at the state level, with net approval ratings—calculated as the percentage approving minus the percentage disapproving—showing low marks in most regions, including key battleground states.
Experts monitoring public opinion highlighted that no single issue dominated Americans’ concerns at this time, suggesting that the overall perception of Trump’s leadership was influenced by a variety of complex and interrelated factors.
This consolidated polling snapshot came just ahead of the annual State of the Union address, often interpreted as a moment for presidents to rally support and outline policy agendas. The numbers illustrate the challenges Trump faced in regaining broad public confidence as his second presidential term advanced.
