With the 2026 midterm elections months away, polls show that public approval for President Donald Trump's performance has continued to drop.
One survey conducted Aug. 20 to Sept. 1 found a near 10-percentage-point drop among Republicans who indicated they "strongly approve" of Trump's job performance, as reported by USA TODAY. Reports of this drop come amidst controversial headlines associated with the president, including his backing of AI data centers, the ongoing war with Iran, attempts to tighten restrictions around mail-in ballots and more.
In addition to several updated national polls, a new study from North Carolina's High Point University provides new insight into the opinions of registered voters in the Tar Heel State on Trump's job performance,
N.C. U.S. Senate candidates and more.
Here's the latest in early September 2026.
What is Donald Trump's approval rating now in July 2026?
Recent polls found the following on Trump's approval rating:
- Most recent polls from Ipsos with Reuters surveyed 1,167 adults and found a 33% approval rating and a 63% disapproval rating, a net approval rating of -30 percentage points.
- Most recent polls from American Research Group surveyed 1,100 adults and found a 30% approval rating and a 66% disapproval rating, a net approval rating of -36 percentage points.
- Most recent polls from Emerson College surveyed 1,000 adults and found a 40% approval rating and a 56% disapproval rating, a net approval rating of -16 percentage points.
- Most recent polls from Marquette University Law School surveyed 1,076 adults and found a 40% approval rating and a 60% disapproval rating, a net approval rating of -20 percentage points.
- Most recent polls from AP/NORC surveyed 1,165 adults and found a 33% approval rating and a 66% disapproval rating, a net approval rating of -33 percentage points.
- Most recent polls from Quinnipiac University surveyed 963 adults and found a 32% approval rating and a 58% disapproval rating, a net approval rating of -26 percentage points.
- Most recent polls from CNN/SSRS surveyed 1,225 adults and found a 34% approval rating and a 66% disapproval rating, a net approval rating of -32 percentage points.
What is Trump's approval rating in North Carolina?
A study released Aug. 21by High Point University surveyed 800 registered North Carolina voters, including 660 residents qualified as November 2026 likely voters. The survey found that Trump had a 42% approval rating and a 54% disapproval rating.
What is North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein's approval rating?
The same HPU poll found that N.C. Gov. Josh Stein had a 52% approval rating and a 25% disapproval rating, while roughly 24% of respondents expressed no opinion.
What is Michael Watley's approval rating in North Carolina?
Heading into the midterm election, the HPU also collected data from North Carolina voters on U.S. Senate candidates Republican Michael Whatley and Democratic former Governor Roy Cooper. The poll found that 45% would vote for Whatley.
What is Roy Cooper's approval rating in North Carolina?
The HPU poll found that, of respondents, 50% would vote for Cooper.
Donald Trump's presidential ranking
A recent post on Trump's Truth Social has an image posted on Sept. 6, which depicted a list of his ranking of U.S. presidents. Only Trump himself was included in a category labeled "the greatest." Also on his list were:
- "Great," including Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson
- "Near great," including Theodore Roosevelt, Grover Cleveland, John Adams, Jame Polk, Ronald Reagan, Woodrow Wilson, Dwight Eisenhower
- "Average," including Bill Clinton, John Quincey Adams, James Monroe, Rutherford B. Hayes, James Madison, William Taft, Chester A. Arthur, William McKinley, Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon, John F. Kennedy, Ulysses S. Grant, Martin Van Buren, Benjamin Harrison and Harry Truman
- "Below average," including John Tyler, Calvin Coolidge, Richard Fillmore, Zachary Taylor, James Buchanan, Franklin Pierce, George H. Bush, Lyndon B. Johnson and Gerald Ford
- "Failures," including Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Warren Harding, Jimmy Carter and Herbert Hoover
How does Trump's approval rating compare with his first term?
According to results from now-defunct polling website FiveThirtyEight, Trump had a final approval rating of 34% when he left office in 2021. His approval average during his first term was 41%.
How does Trump's approval rating compare with past presidents?
Data compiled by USA TODAY found the following:
- Joe Biden - 40%
- Donald Trump (first term) - 34%
- Barack Obama - 59%
- George W. Bush - 34%
- Bill Clinton - 66%
- George H.W. Bush - 56%
- Ronald Reagan - 63%
- Jimmy Carter - 34%
- Gerald Ford - 53%
- Richard Nixon - 24%
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: September 2026 approval polls for Trump continue to wane in U.S., NC
