President Donald Trump’s approval rating among independent voters has dropped sharply in a recent Gallup poll, raising concerns for Republican leaders ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
President Donald Trump faces declining approval ratings among independent voters, according to a new Gallup survey. The dip in support is primarily attributed to dissatisfaction with his handling of key issues such as the federal budget, the economy, and immigration.
The July Gallup poll reveals that Trump’s job approval rating has fallen to 37 percent among all American adults, marking the lowest point of his second term. Among self-identified independents, his approval rating stands at 29 percent, reflecting a 17-point decline from January, equaling his lowest rating with this group since taking office.
Notably, 64 percent of independents expressed an unfavorable view of Trump’s job performance. In contrast, the sentiment among party lines shows stark differences—only 7 percent of Republicans shared this unfavorable view, whereas 97 percent of Democrats reported unfavorable opinions.
The survey was conducted shortly after the passing of Trump’s megabill by Congress, with 73 percent of independents disapproving of his management of the federal budget. Similarly, 65 percent of all adults surveyed disapproved of his budgetary handling, an increase from the 52 percent recorded in March of this year.
This decline in independent support signals potential challenges for Republican leaders as they strive to hold onto their narrow control of the House and Senate in the upcoming 2026 midterms. Trump has consistently struggled to achieve more than 40 percent approval from independents on crucial issues central to his 2024 campaign strategy.
Despite emphasizing economic fortification, 68 percent of independents disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy. Overall disapproval among adults rose to 61 percent, continuing a trend from previous months: 54 percent in February and 59 percent in March.
Immigration remains a polarizing issue despite being a central part of Trump’s agenda, which he frames as vital to national security and economic stability. The poll indicates that only 30 percent of independents approve of Trump’s immigration policies. Disapproval among all adults reached 60 percent, up from 51 percent in February.
Democrats overwhelmingly disapprove of Trump’s management across major issues. Approval from Democrats is notably low, with only 2 percent approving his economic policies and 3 percent supporting his budget management. Just 4 percent approve of his immigration strategies.
Conversely, Trump continues to receive strong backing from Republicans, with 89 percent approving of his presidency. Specifically, 84 percent support his handling of the economy, 81 percent endorse his management of the federal budget, and 88 percent approve of his immigration policies.
The Gallup poll surveyed 1,002 adults via telephone from July 7-21, 2025, with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. The margin of error is larger for subgroups.
According to Politico.
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