Public support for President Donald Trump has continued a downward trend across the United States and within South Carolina as the 2026 midterm election season accelerates into early September. A series of newly released national surveys indicate that a majority of American adults express dissatisfaction with the administration's performance, creating a challenging political environment for Republican candidates running in competitive statewide and local contests.
The slump in approval ratings comes as Republicans prepare for a first-of-its-kind midterm political convention while navigating voter unease surrounding domestic economic pressures and complex foreign engagements. Polling data from leading research organizations reveal consistent net negative marks for the president, with issues such as household costs, foreign conflicts, and energy prices dominating public concern.
Among the latest surveys, a joint poll conducted by Ipsos and Reuters of 1,167 adult respondents found that only 33% approved of Trump's executive performance, compared to 63% who disapproved. This result placed the president at a net approval rating of minus 30 percentage points, with respondents pointing to the rising cost of living as one of the most pressing matters facing households heading toward November.
An even wider deficit appeared in research conducted by the American Research Group, which surveyed 1,100 adults. The organization recorded a 30% approval rating against a 66% disapproval rating, yielding a net approval rating of minus 36 percentage points. The survey highlighted extensive public frustration regarding general economic stewardship and financial stability.
Pollsters at Emerson College captured slightly higher relative support, though the president remained well underwater. In their national survey of 1,000 adults, 40% of participants voiced approval for Trump, while 56% registered disapproval, resulting in a net approval deficit of minus 16 percentage points.
Similarly, a nationwide survey of 1,076 adults by Marquette University Law School showed identical overall approval, with 40% expressing support and 60% disapproving of his performance, generating a net rating of minus 20 percentage points. Marquette’s findings underlined that inflation and living expenses ranked as the paramount concern among eligible voters, followed closely by broader worries regarding the direction of the national economy.
Foreign policy developments also appear to be weighing heavily on public sentiment. A survey administered by the Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, encompassing 1,165 adults, revealed a 33% approval rating and a 66% disapproval rating, translating to a net negative score of minus 33 percentage points. Data from the survey showed that a significant portion of the public believes military conflict involving Iran is not worth pursuing.
Public dissatisfaction was echoed in findings from Quinnipiac University, which sampled 963 adults. In that study, 32% of respondents expressed approval of the administration, whereas 58% expressed disapproval, establishing a net approval rating of minus 26 percentage points as voters weigh their options ahead of critical congressional ballots.
A national poll conducted by CNN and SSRS among 1,225 adults confirmed the ongoing negative sentiment. The survey recorded a 34% approval rating and a 66% disapproval rating, culminating in a net rating of minus 32 percentage points. The study highlighted the dual impact of midterm election anxieties and escalating overseas engagements on presidential standing.
Taken together, the seven major national polls demonstrate that the president's net approval rating is languishing between minus 16 and minus 36 percentage points. This broad consensus among pollsters underscores widespread skepticism among voters as political campaigns enter their final, high-stakes stretch.
The national climate is also reflected in the political landscape of South Carolina, where the president recently traveled to bolster local allies. On August 21, 2026, Trump appeared alongside U.S. Senator Darline Graham during a major campaign event hosted at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. The joint appearance was designed to energize the conservative base in a traditionally solid Republican stronghold.
Despite these high-profile appearances, regional unity has shown signs of strain. Representative Ralph Norman notably declined to commit to campaigning for Graham, pointing to emerging fractures within the state party infrastructure. Graham later held an Election Day watch party on August 25, 2026, at the Willoughby, Humphrey, and D’Antonio Law Firm Building in Columbia as candidates organized their operations for the general election.
The challenging poll figures coincide with broader domestic strains, including fuel costs that hit record highs over the Labor Day holiday weekend. While the administration's energy leadership maintains that gas prices are more positioned to decline than rise, everyday consumer costs remain a central grievance among independents and undecided voters. Compounding these domestic concerns are the economic ripple effects of retaliatory trade tariffs stemming from a dispute with Canada.
On the international front, heightened military action—including American strikes targeting Iranian oil tankers—has intensified scrutiny over the administration's foreign policy trajectory. At the same time, ongoing diplomatic meetings involving U.S. envoys and Russian representatives, alongside administration appeals before the Supreme Court regarding mail-in voting regulations, have kept legal and diplomatic disputes at the center of political debate.
As an increasing share of voters indicate alignment with Democratic positions on key matters, Republican strategists face the difficult task of defending congressional seats amidst these headwinds. With early September polling cementing a distinct downward trend, the administration confronts persistent questions over how effectively it can shift public opinion before ballots are cast.
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