Trump Approval Rating Hits Term-Two Low: 31% Economy

Donald Trump's approval rating has plunged to its lowest point of his second term, with a new CNN poll released April 1, 2026 showing a net approval of -18 points — a dramatic collapse that has analysts reaching for historical comparisons to Richard Nixon's Watergate era. From a positive +6 net approval at the start of his second term in January 2025, Trump's numbers have fallen steadily and sharply, driven by widespread economic frustration, rising gas prices, and the ongoing Iran war. Here's a full breakdown of what the latest data shows and what it means.

Trump's Approval Rating: The Latest Numbers

The April 2026 CNN poll paints a stark picture. Trump's overall net approval rating now stands at -18 points, the lowest recorded during his second term. That number represents a freefall from where he stood just 15 months ago — at +6 points when he was inaugurated for the second time in January 2025.

The decline has been consistent and accelerating:

January 2025: Net approval at +6 points
April 2025: Net approval at -3 points
July 2025 (approx.): Net approval at -7 points
October 2025: Net approval at -10 points
January 2026: Net approval at -13 points
April 2026: Net approval at -18 points

In less than 15 months, Trump has shed roughly 24 net approval points — a trajectory that CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten has publicly labeled "Death Valley." The numbers reflect a broad and deepening dissatisfaction that extends well beyond traditional Democratic opposition.

Economy Approval Hits a Critical Low

The sharpest drop has come on the issue voters care about most: the economy. According to the latest CNN polling data, only 31% of Americans approve of Trump's handling of the economy — a number that reflects widespread and growing frustration with his economic policies.

Even more striking is the data on inflation. Just 27% of Americans approve of how Trump has handled inflation, a sharp drop from 44% a year ago. Gas prices topping $4 a gallon nationwide are cited as a key driver of that frustration, as everyday consumers feel the pinch at the pump.

Perhaps most damaging: roughly two-thirds of Americans say Trump's policies have made economic conditions worse. That includes a significant number of his own supporters — nearly 3 in 10 Republicans now say Trump's economic policies have had a negative effect. When a president loses ground among his base on the signature issue of his campaign, the political damage is difficult to reverse.

As The Economist noted, Trump's approval rating has now sunk to match Joe Biden's lowest recorded point — a comparison that would have seemed unthinkable at the start of his second term, when he entered office with a wave of post-election momentum.

Worse Than Nixon: The Independent Voter Collapse

The most alarming data point for the White House may be what's happening with independent voters. Trump's net approval among independents now stands at -45 points — and that number has drawn a remarkable historical comparison.

CNN's Harry Enten pointed out that Trump's standing with independents is now worse than Richard Nixon's during the height of the Watergate scandal, when Nixon's net approval among independents sat at -36 points. The comparison landed with force: Nixon resigned the presidency in August 1974 under the weight of those numbers. Trump's are, statistically, worse.

CNN's reporting on Enten's analysis described the independent voter trend as historically significant. Independents are not a monolithic bloc, but they are the critical swing constituency in American elections. A -45 net approval rating among that group represents a level of political isolation that constrains a president's ability to govern, build coalitions, or claim a mandate.

What's Driving the Drop: A 'Slew of Events'

Analysts aren't pointing to any single cause. Instead, Harry Enten described the decline as the result of a "slew of events" that have compounded over the first year-plus of Trump's second term.

Key factors cited include:

Economic frustration: Inflation, elevated gas prices, and concerns about the cost of living have eroded confidence in Trump's economic stewardship. The collapse in inflation approval — from 44% to 27% in a year — tells a story of promises made and not delivered.
The Iran war: The ongoing military conflict with Iran has added a layer of national security and foreign policy anxiety to an already stressed electorate. Wars are politically costly when they drag on without clear resolution.
Policy backlash: The breadth of disapproval — extending to nearly a third of Republican voters — suggests that specific policy decisions have alienated even supporters who might otherwise give Trump the benefit of the doubt.

The all-time record low polling reflects not one bad news cycle but a sustained erosion of trust across multiple fronts simultaneously.

Historical Context: How Bad Is -18?

To understand the weight of a -18 net approval rating, it helps to compare it to historical benchmarks. Net approval is calculated by subtracting the percentage who disapprove from the percentage who approve. A president at -18 is not simply unpopular — he is deeply and broadly unpopular.

For context:

George W. Bush hit similar territory during the depths of the Iraq War and in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Jimmy Carter reached comparable lows during the Iran hostage crisis and the 1979 energy crisis.
Barack Obama's lowest net approval hovered around -15 to -20 at his weakest moments.
Nixon's net approval among all voters fell into deeply negative territory before his resignation.

The Nixon comparison is particularly resonant because Enten's data shows Trump performing worse than Nixon specifically among independents — a group whose defection historically signals a president in serious political trouble. Nixon resigned. Biden chose not to seek re-election. The historical pattern of presidents with deeply negative independent approval is not encouraging for incumbents.

What This Means Politically

Approval ratings don't directly translate to electoral outcomes — especially when the next presidential election is still years away. But they do shape the political environment in concrete ways:

Congressional dynamics: Republican legislators watching these numbers may grow more willing to break with the White House on key votes, particularly on economic policy.
Policy bandwidth: Presidents with low approval ratings have less political capital to spend on ambitious legislative agendas. It becomes harder to build coalitions or pressure Congress.
Media narrative: A sustained decline creates a "failing presidency" narrative that's difficult to shake, reinforcing public perception even when individual policies succeed.
Midterm positioning: If the trend continues, Democrats will have significant ammunition heading into the 2026 midterms, potentially energizing their base and swaying independent-leaning districts.

The White House has not yet responded publicly to the CNN poll findings, but the political pressure these numbers create is real and immediate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Trump's approval rating right now?

As of April 1, 2026, Trump's net approval rating stands at -18 points, according to a new CNN poll. This is the lowest point of his second term. His approval on the economy specifically is 31%, and his approval on inflation is 27%.

How does Trump's approval rating compare to Nixon's?

Trump's net approval among independent voters is -45 points, which CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten says is worse than Richard Nixon's -36 points among independents during the height of the Watergate scandal. Nixon resigned in August 1974 in part due to his collapsed political standing.

Why is Trump's approval rating dropping?

Multiple factors are driving the decline, including economic frustration (particularly around inflation and gas prices above $4 a gallon), dissatisfaction with his handling of the economy, the ongoing Iran war, and what analysts describe as a "slew of events" that have cumulatively eroded public confidence.

Do Republicans approve of Trump's economic handling?

Support is eroding even within his own party. Nearly 3 in 10 Republicans now say Trump's policies have made economic conditions worse — a significant crack in his base that compounds the overall decline in approval ratings.

How does Trump's current approval compare to Biden's lowest point?

According to The Economist, Trump's approval rating has now matched Joe Biden's lowest recorded approval point — a striking comparison given that Biden's low numbers were widely seen as a primary driver of his decision not to seek re-election in 2024.

Conclusion

The April 2026 CNN poll represents a watershed moment in Donald Trump's second term. A net approval of -18 points, a 31% economy approval rating, and independent voter numbers worse than Nixon's Watergate peak — taken together, these figures tell the story of a presidency that has lost the confidence of a substantial and growing majority of Americans.

The trajectory matters as much as the snapshot. Trump began his second term with genuine political momentum and a positive net approval. That goodwill has been spent, and the current trend line is moving in one direction. Whether driven by inflation, gas prices, the Iran war, or the cumulative weight of policy decisions, two-thirds of Americans now believe conditions have gotten worse under his leadership.

Harry Enten's "Death Valley" label captures something real: the numbers are low, they're falling, and there's no obvious catalyst for a reversal on the immediate horizon. The political consequences — in Congress, in the midterms, and in the broader national debate — will play out over the months ahead.