Trump Approval Rating Plummets in Latest Polls

Surveys show president's standing at record lows for second term

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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President Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen to second-term lows across four major national polls, according to CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten. Recent surveys show Trump deeply underwater, with his net approval rating ranging from 19 to 26 points negative, a level Enten described as unprecedented for this point in a second term.

Why it matters

Trump's approval has been sliding steadily since the start of his second term, highlighting mounting political risks for the president as the midterm elections approach. The president's weakening standing could force Republican strategists to localize midterm races and distance vulnerable incumbents from national headwinds.

The details

Four national polls conducted between early January and early February show Trump at or near the lowest approval levels in his second term. An AP-NORC poll found Trump at -26 net approval, a joint low for that polling series. An NBC News/SurveyMonkey poll had Trump at -22, while a Quinnipiac University poll showed him at -19, a deterioration from previous surveys. A Yahoo News/YouGov poll also had Trump at -20 on net approval.

  • The AP-NORC poll was conducted February 5-8, 2026.
  • The NBC News/SurveyMonkey poll was conducted January 27 to February 6, 2026.
  • The Quinnipiac University poll was conducted January 29 to February 2, 2026.
  • The Yahoo News/YouGov poll was conducted January 8-12, 2026.

The players

Harry Enten

CNN chief data analyst.

Davis Ingle

White House spokesman.

Donald Trump

President of the United States.

David Montgomery

Senior data journalist at YouGov.

Taylor Orth

Director of survey data journalism at YouGov.

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What they’re saying

“Where is the floor for Donald Trump? I'm not sure there is a floor because if there is one, Donald Trump, at least in term number two, has just fallen through it to another low level.”

— Harry Enten, CNN chief data analyst (CNN)

“The ultimate poll was November 5th 2024, when nearly 80 million Americans overwhelmingly elected President Trump to deliver on his popular and commonsense agenda. The President has already made historic progress not only in America but around the world. It is not surprising that President Trump remains the most dominant figure in American politics.”

— Davis Ingle, White House spokesman (Newsweek)

“The highest Poll Numbers I have ever received. Obviously, people like a strong and powerful Country, with the best economy, EVER!”

— Donald Trump (Truth Social)

“A majority of Americans disapprove of how Donald Trump is handling his overall job as president, and even more disapprove of how Trump is handling the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. These negative views of Trump's handling of his overall job and the Epstein investigation have changed little in recent weeks.”

— David Montgomery and Taylor Orth, Senior data journalist and director of survey data journalism at YouGov (YouGov)

What’s next

Upcoming polls will be closely watched for any stabilization among independent voters, a group that is central to determining whether the president's standing can recover before the midterm campaign fully takes shape.

The takeaway

Trump's plummeting approval ratings in his second term highlight the mounting political challenges he faces, with the president setting new lows across multiple national polls. This could force Republican strategists to rethink their midterm election strategies and distance vulnerable incumbents from the president's unpopular national standing.