President Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen to a new low in Fox News polling, as voters express deep dissatisfaction with his handling of inflation and the economy and Democrats widen their advantage ahead of November's midterm elections.
The survey, released Oct. 14, found Trump's approval rating at 36%, while 64% of registered voters said they disapproved of his job performance. According to Fox News, that marks the lowest approval rating the president has received in the network's polling during either of his two terms in the White House.
The findings arrive as Republicans prepare for a critical midterm election cycle and as Trump continues to face voter frustration over rising costs and broader economic concerns.
Democrats retaking the House
Trump reaches new low in Fox News polling
The survey found Trump's support continuing to erode, including among Republican voters.
Trump's approval among Republicans stood at 76%, down three percentage points from September and 16 points from March 2025, when he was only months into his second term.
Overall, just 36% of voters approved of Trump's job performance, while nearly two-thirds said they disapproved.
The poll was conducted Oct. 9-12 among 1,202 registered voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
Inflation and economy drive voter dissatisfaction
The president's weakest marks came on economic issues, which continue to rank among voters' top concerns.
According to the poll, 77% of voters disapproved of Trump's handling of inflation. Another 70% disapproved of his handling of the economy, while 69% disapproved of his approach to tariffs and 64% disapproved of his foreign policy performance.
Trump's approval rating on inflation stood at just 22%.
Fox News noted that figure is seven percentage points lower than former President Joe Biden's inflation approval rating in 2022 ahead of that year's midterm elections, underscoring the political challenge Trump faces on an issue that has long been central to voters' concerns.
Poll points to challenges for Republicans in November
The survey also suggests Democrats are benefiting from growing voter dissatisfaction.
In the latest generic congressional ballot, Democrats led Republicans by nine percentage points, their largest advantage of the year in Fox News polling and a two-point improvement from September.
Independent voters appeared to be driving much of that advantage. Democrats held a 26-point lead among independents, giving the party a significant edge with a voting bloc that often plays an outsized role in competitive races.
The poll also found that seven in 10 Americans said their vote in November would be intended to send a message to Trump. Among those voters, 47% said that message would be one of opposition to the president.
National polling averages tell a similar story
While individual polls can vary, broader polling averages continue to show Trump in deeply negative territory.
As of Oct. 15, theRealClearPolitics average showed Trump with a 38.8% approval rating and a 59.2% disapproval rating. The New York Times polling average had Trump at 37% approval and 60% disapproval, while Nate Silver's Silver Bulletin average showed 37.5% approval and 59.8% disapproval.
Taken together, the averages suggest the Fox News findings are broadly consistent with the wider polling landscape, where Trump remains significantly underwater with voters as the midterm campaign enters a crucial stretch.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump approval sinks to new low in Fox News poll
