Trump approval falls to 30 per cent as polls warn of midterm trouble for Republicans

Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen to 30 per cent, matching near-record lows and triggering alarm among Republican strategists as the midterm elections draw near.

A series of nationwide surveys released this week show declining enthusiasm among the president's base alongside growing public dissatisfaction over rising costs. Major polling averages from RealClearPolitics, The New York Times and the Silver Bulletin currently place Trump's overall approval in the high 30s, with disapproval hovering near 60 per cent.

Enthusiasm gap widens between voters

A survey conducted by Reuters and Ipsos found that just 30 per cent of voters who supported Trump in 2024 describe themselves as highly enthusiastic about voting in the upcoming midterms. By comparison, 48 per cent of those who backed former Vice President Kamala Harris expressed strong enthusiasm.

The same poll highlighted that voters heading to the ballot box are increasingly motivated by opposition to the administration rather than support for it. Among highly enthusiastic respondents, 62 per cent said they planned to vote against the president, compared with 36 per cent who intended to support him. A bipartisan majority of respondents also attributed rising living costs to administration policies.

Support slipping among Trump's base

Data from the Pew Research Center indicates that support within Trump's core coalition is loosening. Approval of his job performance among his 2024 voters has dropped to 67 per cent, down 28 percentage points since the start of his second term.

Overall satisfaction among Republicans regarding the direction of the country has also dropped sharply. Only 39 per cent of Republican respondents expressed satisfaction, compared with 65 per cent at the start of Trump's term.

David Paleologos, director of Suffolk University's Political Research Center, noted that the current figures sit well below historical benchmarks. In October 2018, when Trump's approval stood at 44 per cent, Republicans went on to lose 41 House seats.

Campaign money moves to Kansas and North Carolina

As public support softens, party leaders have begun reallocating campaign funds to safeguard critical races. Republicans recently redirected financial resources out of North Carolina's Senate contest to bolster candidates in Kansas.

Local polling reflects tight battles in both states. An East Carolina University survey put former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper seven points ahead of Republican candidate Michael Whatley. In Kansas, a YouGov poll showed Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton holding a three-point lead over incumbent Republican Senator Roger Marshall.