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Trump Job Approval Falls to 36%, a New Low in Fox News Polling

A Fox News survey released Wednesday puts President Donald Trump's approval at 36%, the lowest mark of either of his two terms, with 77% of voters disapproving of his handling of inflation less than three weeks before the midterm elections.

By admin Oct. 15, 2026 · 4:45 PM ET 2 min read

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President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 36% in Fox News polling, the lowest mark of either of his two terms in the White House, according to a survey released Wednesday that found voters deeply unhappy with his handling of inflation and the economy less than three weeks before the midterm elections.

The survey of 1,202 registered voters was conducted Oct. 9-12 and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. Sixty-four percent of voters said they disapproved of Trump’s job performance.

The slide reaches into Trump’s own party. His approval among Republicans stood at 76%, down three points from September and 16 points from March 2025, when he was only months into his second term.

The economy appeared to be the main driver. Seventy-seven percent of voters disapproved of Trump’s handling of inflation, while 70% disapproved of his handling of the economy, 69% of his approach to tariffs and 64% of his foreign policy performance. His approval rating on inflation stood at just 22% — seven points lower than former President Joe Biden’s inflation approval in 2022 ahead of that year’s midterm elections, according to Fox News.

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Democrats widen their lead on the generic ballot

Democrats led Republicans by nine percentage points on the generic congressional ballot, their largest advantage of the year in Fox News polling and a two-point improvement from September. Democrats held a 26-point lead among independents.

Voters standing in line at a polling station, seen from behind, with voting booths and American flags

Seven in 10 voters said their November vote would be intended to send a message to Trump. Of those voters, 47% said the message would be one of opposition to the president.

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National polling averages agree

Broader averages put Trump in similar territory. As of Oct. 15, the RealClearPolitics average showed Trump at 38.8% approval against 59.2% disapproval. The New York Times polling average put him at 37% approval and 60% disapproval, while Nate Silver’s Silver Bulletin average showed 37.5% approval and 59.8% disapproval.

Reporting based on coverage by USA TODAY.

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