As the conflict with Iran continues, inflation rises, and the midterm elections approach, President Donald Trump's approval rating is beginning to slip once again this term.
As the conflict with Iran continues, inflation rises and the midterm elections approach, President Donald Trump's approval rating is beginning to slip again during his second term.
A new Economist/YouGov poll, released Aug. 11, found that 33% of Americans approve of Trump's job performance, down 3 percentage points from the previous week. This marks the lowest approval rating the president has received in YouGov tracking since returning to office in 2025.
The Economist/YouGov poll also found that 60% of Americans view the president as "not honest and trustworthy." Trump's age
continues to concern many Americans, with 53% saying they believe the 80-year-old president is too old to serve in the White House. Additionally, 69% said they feel that things in the country are "out of control."
While his approval rating in Tennessee has not been strong since the start of his second term, it remains considerably closer to an even split than his national rating.
Here's what Tennessee voters think of Trump 18 months into his second term.
Tennessee faith in Trump unshaken
A recent report from the BBC examined how, despite directly feeling the financial strain of the war in Iran, residents in Kingsport, Tennessee, still support the president steadfastly. Both the city and state voted overwhelmingly for him in all three elections, and the upcoming midterms will likely follow a similar pattern of electing Republican candidates.
The Holston Army Ammunition Plant in Kingsport produces explosives for Patriot missiles and heavy weaponry amid the ongoing war with Iran. This conflict has driven US gas prices above $4 a gallon, impacting businesses nationwide. The plant, employing about 1,000 people, is a key munitions supplier, shaping local perspectives on the war.
Most residents support or rationalize the Iran conflict despite Trump's "no more wars" promise. While Trump's popularity wanes among traditional Republicans, his core supporters in this region remain loyal, viewing him as a steadfast choice in the upcoming midterm elections.
What are Trump's approval ratings?
Silver Bulletin
Most recent Trump approval rating according to Pollster Nate Silver's “Silver Bulletin” newsletter (Aug. 13, 2026):
- Favorable: 38.2%
- Unfavorable: 58.5%
- Net Approval: -20.4
Rasmussen
Most recent Trump approval rating, according to the latest Rasmussen poll (Aug. 13, 2026):
- Favorable: 43%
- Unfavorable: 55%
- Net Approval: -12
New York Times
Most recent Trump approval rating, according to the latest New York Times poll (Aug. 13, 2026):
- Favorable: 37%
- Unfavorable: 59%
- Net Approval: -22
Civiqs
Most recent Trump approval rating according to Civiqs poll (Aug. 12, 2026):
- Favorable: 35%
- Unfavorable: 60%
- Not sure: 5%
The Economist
Most recent Trump approval rating, according to the latest from The Economist (Aug. 11, 2026):
- Favorable: 34%
- Unfavorable: 61%
- Not sure: 4%
- Net Approval: -27
Reuters/Ipsos
Most recent Trump approval rating, according to the latest from the Reuters/Ipsos poll (Aug. 3, 2026):
- Favorable: 35%
- Unfavorable: 63%
- Net Approval: -28%
What is Trump's approval rating in Tennessee?
Civiqs polls, last updated Aug. 12, indicate Trump's approval in Tennessee has dropped since early July after plateauing for several weeks.
Since late May, Trump's net approval, the difference between approval and disapproval ratings, has dropped to 2% after lingering around 4% since early July. Most recently, 47% of Tennessee residents approve of his performance, 45% disapprove, and 8% are neutral.
Trump's net approval in Tennessee began at 24% when he took office, declined to 7% by late 2025, and has not risen above 5% since May 5. During his first term, he started with a 17% net rating and ended with an 11% rating.
The polling numbers for Tennessee were also broken down by age, education, gender, race and party.
- Age: Adults ages 18-34 expressed the highest level of unfavorable views of Trump (62%), while those 65 and older were the most favorable (62%). Adults 50-64 followed closely behind at 57% approval.
- Education: Only non-college graduates have a positive approval rating for the president at 49%. Similarly, only 49% of college graduates disapprove, compared with 56% of postgraduates.
- Gender: Men and women are split slightly on Trump, with 51% of women disapproving and 54% of men expressing a positive view of the president.
- Party: Among political parties, Democrats and independents both disapprove of the president, at rates of 98% and 55%, respectively. Unsurprisingly, 79% of Republicans in the state approve of Trump's performance.
- Race: Results by race show that voters of color have a predominantly negative view of Trump. In Tennessee, 90% of Black voters, 55% of Hispanic/Latino voters, and 51% of those identified as "Other" disapprove. In contrast, Trump has a 55% approval rating among white voters.
Jordan Green covers trending news for The Commercial Appeal and Tennessee. She can be reached at jordan.green@commercialappeal.com.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: What is Trump's approval rating in Tennessee? What August polls say
