Trump approval at new low in second term: Survey

President Trump’s approval hit a record low for his second term in the latest CNN/SSRS survey released Monday.

The poll, conducted in late October, shows 37 percent of surveyed Americans approved of the president’s handling of his post, compared to 63 percent who say they disapproved.

That represents a sizable shift from the last CNN poll, conducted in July, which found 42 percent approving of the president and 58 percent disapproving. In April, 41 percent approved, and 59 percent disapproved. And, in March, 45 percent approved, and 54 percent disapproved. 

Near the start of Trump’s second term, in mid-February, Trump’s approval sat at 47 percent, compared to his 52 percent disapproval rating.

The latest poll also inched closer to the president’s all-time low, recorded in January 2021, in the immediate aftermath of the attack on the U.S. Capitol. At that time, 34 percent approved of his handling of the job, down from 42 percent just three months earlier.

Monday's poll shows the president’s performance suffering, in particular, among younger Americans and seniors; people of color; and low-income Americans.

Among Americans ages 18-34, Trump’s approval dropped 12 points from February to 29 percent today; among Americans ages 35-49, his approval dropped 14 points to 35 percent today; among Americans 65 and older, Trump’s approval dropped 14 points to 39 percent.

Only among the second-highest age group, Americans ages 50-64, is Trump’s approval relatively stable: at 46 percent, down just 1 point from February.

Trump has seen his approval drop 14 points to 22 percent among people of color, compared to a 9-point drop to 46 percent among white Americans.

Folks making less than $50,000 a year have also soured on the president, dropping from 45 percent approval in February to 31 percent approval today. Those making $50,000 or more have seen a less severe decline in approval, dropping from 49 percent in February to 41 percent today.

Across the political spectrum, the biggest drop emerges among independents, 28 percent of whom approved of the president, down from 43 percent in February. Republicans have seen only a 4-point decline in approval, at 84 percent in the latest poll. And among Democrats, 3 percent approved of the president, down from 11 percent in February.

The survey was conducted on Oct. 27-30 and included 1,245 respondents. The margin of error was 3.1 percentage points.