Trump’s Approval Rating Faces Challenges in Majority of States

President Donald Trump’s approval rating is showing negative trends in most U.S. states as revealed by a recent poll. This highlights the ongoing political and geographic divisions in the country.

Current Approval Ratings

The Civiqs daily online tracking poll, with data from 106,368 responses collected from January 20, 2025, to May 23, 2026, shows Trump’s net approval is negative in 36 states and positive in only 14 states. This suggests a decline in support beyond the typically Republican areas. The latest figures were released on Memorial Day, which occurred on Monday, May 25 this year, honoring U.S. Armed Forces members who died while serving.

Impact on Midterm Elections

As the midterm elections approach, Trump’s approval rating could play a critical role. Although he will not be on the ballot, these elections give voters a chance to express their views on his presidency. Historically, midterms often reflect public opinion on the sitting president and can influence their legislative agenda. Any changes in key seats may alter the balance of power in U.S. Congress.

Traditionally, the party not in control of the White House performs better in midterm elections. In 2018, Republicans lost the House. Currently, they hold narrow majorities, and losing either the House or the Senate would impact their legislative capabilities.

Civiqs Data Insights

According to Civiqs, Trump’s approval stands at 36% nationwide, with 59% disapproving. His support remains strong in solid Republican states such as Wyoming (+26 net approval) and West Virginia (+16). Only 14 states show majority approval for Trump, while 36 states report more disapproval than support, underscoring the prevailing polarization.

In contrast, disapproval exceeds 70% in strongly Democratic states like Hawaii, Vermont, and Maryland. Civiqs utilizes a large national panel and statistical modeling to conduct its research.

High and Low Approval Ratings by State

Trump’s highest approval ratings are concentrated in deeply Republican states that provided strong backing in the 2024 election. Approval numbers remain positive in regions such as the Plains, Mountain West, and parts of Appalachia, reflecting a stable base since his return to office.

Wyoming shows Trump’s highest approval with a net of +26 points. North Dakota follows with +17 points, and West Virginia records +16 points. These states delivered significant victories for Trump in 2024 and have consistently been among his best performers. Idaho (+14) and Alabama (+11) also show strong support, aligning with their Republican affinities.

Conversely, Trump’s lowest approval ratings are found in Democratic states that opposed him in 2024. States like Hawaii (-61), Vermont (-57), and Maryland (-50) report the lowest net approval. Previous polling frequently reflects disapproval rates near or above 70% in these areas. Both California and Massachusetts (-45 each) display substantial Democratic resistance.

Additional Polling Results

The Civiqs poll is one of several unfavorable polls for Trump. A New York Times/Siena College poll marks a 59% disapproval rating, the highest recorded in that survey. A CNN poll conducted from May 11 to May 15, 2026, with 1,507 registered voters, shows Trump’s disapproval at 66%. This phone survey, available in English and Spanish, has a margin of error of ±2.8 percentage points.

Trump’s Memorial Day Message

On Memorial Day, Trump referred to Democrats as “Dumocrats” in a post on Truth Social. He expressed good wishes while criticizing Democrats, saying: “Happy Memorial Day to all, including the Dumocrats, who disrespect our Military and all of the tremendous success that it has had over the last year. God Bless those that have made the ultimate sacrifice. I love you all! President DONALD J. TRUMP” In a follow-up, he added: “The Dumocrats have BAD POLICY, AND BAD CANDIDATES. Other than that, they are doing quite well! President DJT”

White House Response

The White House has not commented on the latest polling. However, spokesman Davis Ingle stated to Newsweek: “The ultimate poll was November 5th, 2024, when nearly 80 million Americans overwhelmingly elected President Trump to deliver on his popular and commonsense agenda.”