Trump’s Approval Rating Falls to 37%—the Lowest Level Since the Start of His Second Term

According to a CNN/SSRS poll published on Monday, November 3, Trump’s numbers have fallen sharply compared with the early weeks of his second term in January, when approval reached 47% by mid-February.

The survey, conducted among 1,245 U.S. adults between October 27 and 30, found 63% disapprove of his performance — just one point above the record low set in January 2021 following the Capitol riot.

When asked how things are going in the country, 68% of respondents said “bad” or “very bad,” while 32% described the situation as “mostly good” or “generally positive.”

The poll was conducted amid the ongoing shutdown of federal agencies, which now appears likely to become the longest in U.S. history. Nearly half of respondents — 47% — cited the economy and rising cost of living as the nation’s most pressing problems.

The second most significant issue, according to respondents, was the state of American democracy (26%). By comparison, only 10% named immigration as the top concern, even though the Trump administration continues to focus heavily on it — from ramping up ICE raids and reducing refugee quotas to legal battles over migration policy.

Crime and public safety worried just 7% of those surveyed, despite the president’s repeated pledges to “rid major cities of crime, blood, and chaos” — places he has described as “hellscapes” and “war zones.”

Only 27% of respondents believe Trump’s policies have improved the economy. In contrast, 61% say his decisions have harmed it, while 12% see no change. These views align with growing discontent in rural Republican districts, where his tariffs have led to factory layoffs and slower production across several industries.

On foreign policy, 32% of those surveyed think Trump’s decisions have strengthened America’s global standing. However, 56% believe they have weakened U.S. influence, and 12% see no difference. The findings come shortly after White House statements claiming the president had “ended eight wars in eight months of his term.”

A majority of Americans (61%) believe Trump is abusing his presidential powers. About a third (31%) say he is using them appropriately, and only 9% think he shows insufficient decisiveness.

Since the start of his second term, the president has been actively expanding the power of the executive branch — authorizing international strikes without congressional approval, deploying the National Guard against the will of governors, and signing orders that place independent regulatory agencies under White House control.

The poll’s findings on presidential power mirror expert warnings that Trump’s investigations into political opponents could turn the Justice Department into his “personal instrument of pressure.”

With the midterm elections approaching, 41% of Americans said their vote for Congress would be a protest against Trump. Another 21% said they would vote to support him, while 38% said their choice would not be related to their opinion of the president.