Public approval of President Donald Trump’s job performance has continued to deteriorate both across the United States and within South Carolina as the 2026 midterm election season moves into its decisive autumn phase. A comprehensive wave of national public opinion surveys released heading into early September 2026 underscores an increasingly challenging political landscape for the administration.
With key congressional and state races drawing closer, nonpartisan research organizations and major academic institutions have registered consistent double-digit disapproval marks. The latest collection of survey data highlights broad public dissatisfaction among American adults as voters weigh economic conditions, foreign policy developments, and national governance ahead of the November ballots.
A nationwide survey conducted by Ipsos in conjunction with Reuters highlighted the steep headwinds facing the president. Sampling 1,167 adult respondents, the Ipsos/Reuters poll found that just 33% of Americans approved of Trump's overall handling of the presidency. In contrast, 63% expressed disapproval, leaving the administration with a net approval rating of minus 30 percentage points.
An even sharper deficit was measured by the American Research Group in its nationwide assessment of 1,100 adults. In that survey, Trump's approval figure dropped to 30%, while his disapproval rating reached 66%. The resulting net approval margin of minus 36 percentage points stood among the most severe deficits recorded across major polling outfits in the late summer cycle.
Even in surveys where Trump performed comparatively better, public disapproval continued to significantly outweigh favorable assessments. An Emerson College national poll surveying 1,000 adults showed Trump’s approval rating standing at 40%, yet 56% of respondents disapproved of his performance. That outcome left him underwater by a net approval margin of minus 16 percentage points.
A similar dynamic emerged from research conducted by the Marquette University Law School. Examining a sample of 1,076 adults, the Marquette survey determined that 40% of respondents approved of the president’s performance, compared against 60% who indicated disapproval. The resulting net approval deficit stood at minus 20 percentage points, further demonstrating consistent resistance across broad segments of the public.
National views on the administration were also captured by the AP/NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. In its study of 1,165 adult participants, only 33% of respondents indicated that they approved of the president’s executive performance, whereas 66% voiced disapproval. This resulted in a net approval deficit of minus 33 percentage points.
Data released by Quinnipiac University reaffirmed the prevailing downward trajectory across the American electorate. In a survey of 963 adults, Quinnipiac found that 32% of participants approved of Trump's performance in office, while 58% voiced disapproval. The findings established a net negative approval rating of minus 26 percentage points heading into the fall campaign stretch.
The administration’s widespread approval challenges were further emphasized by a CNN/SSRS poll surveying 1,225 adults. The network's findings showed that 34% of respondents approved of the president's conduct in the White House, against 66% who registered disapproval. The outcome yielded a net approval rating of minus 32 percentage points, closely matching the figures documented by other major polling outlets.
Taken together, these seven national polls paint a cohesive picture of an administration struggling to generate positive momentum with the wider public. Across all surveyed groups, Trump’s disapproval ratings regularly exceeded the 55% threshold and reached as high as 66%, while his approval numbers remained confined between 30% and 40%.
The downward shift in polling numbers is especially noteworthy in South Carolina, a state where Trump has historically maintained strong conservative backing. Local and national strategists are paying close attention to how diminishing presidential approval ratings might influence voter turnout, candidate viability, and down-ballot contests throughout the state during the upcoming midterms.
Despite the difficult polling environment, Trump has actively engaged with Republican candidates on the campaign trail in South Carolina. On Friday, August 21, 2026, the president traveled to Myrtle Beach to headline a campaign event at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center alongside U.S. Senator Darline Graham, appearing in support of her reelection effort.
The Myrtle Beach event was followed by continued political activity across the state, including an Election Day watch party on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, held at the Willoughby, Humphrey and D’Antonio Law Firm Building in Columbia, South Carolina, where campaign observers gathered to follow key developments in Graham's race.
The combination of low approval ratings and ongoing campaign appearances reflects the complex balance Republican candidates face across South Carolina and other competitive regions. As party figures seek to mobilize core supporters, they must also navigate the broader drag caused by negative national perceptions of the administration.
With early September marking the traditional acceleration of midterm campaigning, the persistent deficit in public approval poses a formidable hurdle for the White House. Unless the administration can reverse the negative trends identified across multiple nonpartisan polls, Trump's standing could present serious headwinds for GOP candidates as voters head toward the 2026 midterm elections.
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