Trump’s Job Approval Ratings Remain Low in Early 2026 Polls

Recent polling data from multiple organizations in January 2026 indicate that President Trump’s job approval remains below 43%, with disapproval rates consistently higher. These figures reflect a continued trend of negative net approval ratings for the president.

Aggregate polling compiled in late January 2026 places President Trump’s approval between 37% and 42%, while disapproval rates are reported between 55% and 56%. Net approval ratings from these polls range from -13 to -19 points, according to data from several sources.

Specific polls conducted in early January 2026 provide similar results. A Marist Poll from January 12–13 found 38% of respondents approved of Trump’s performance, while 56% disapproved, resulting in a net approval of -18 points. An Economist/YouGov survey covering January 9–12 recorded 40% approval and 54% disapproval, a net of -14 points.

Additional polling from AP-NORC between January 8 and 11, 2026, reported 40% approval and 59% disapproval, yielding a net approval of -19 points. The RealClearPolitics average as of January 3, 2026, showed a slightly higher approval at 43.5%, but still a negative net approval of -9.5%.

What the numbers show

• Marist Poll (Jan 12–13, 2026): 38% approve, 56% disapprove, net -18
• Economist/YouGov (Jan 9–12, 2026): 40% approve, 54% disapprove, net -14
• AP-NORC (Jan 8–11, 2026): 40% approve, 59% disapprove, net -19
• Gallup (Dec 2025): 36% approval
• RealClearPolitics (Jan 3, 2026): 43.5% approve, net -9.5

Polls conducted at the end of 2025 also reflect similar trends. Gallup found 36% approval for Trump’s job performance in December 2025. According to Time, the same Gallup poll showed 36% approval, while Economist/YouGov polling reported 57% disapproval during that period.

A CNN/SSRS poll reported by The Daily Beast indicated that 39% of Americans approved of Trump’s performance, and 58% described his return to office as a failure. These results are consistent with other surveys showing a majority of respondents disapproving of his job performance.

Across multiple polling organizations, aggregated data as of January 22, 2026, confirm that approval ratings for President Trump remain in the high 30s to low 40s, with disapproval in the mid-50s. These figures have been stable across different survey providers.

Overall, the polling landscape in early 2026 demonstrates that President Trump’s net approval ratings remain negative, with approval figures consistently below the disapproval rates reported by major national polling organizations.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.