Key facts
- 35% of Americans approve of President Donald Trump's performance.
- 63% of Americans disapprove of Trump's $5,000 dividend offer.
- 44% of Americans would vote for Democrats in a congressional election, versus 37% for Republicans.
- 38% of voters believe Democrats are better stewards of the economy, compared to 37% for Republicans.
President Donald Trump's approval rating has risen slightly from a career low, but a new Reuters/Ipsos poll indicates a souring outlook for Republicans heading into the November midterm elections. The poll, conducted in the days following the Republican Party's first-ever midterm convention, found that Americans are increasingly favoring Democrats to control Congress and are more likely to view them as better stewards of the economy.
The survey of 1,143 Americans showed 35% approve of Trump's performance, an increase from 33% in a late August poll. However, a significant majority, 63%, disapproved of a $5,000 dividend offer Trump made in his convention speech, including four in 10 Republicans.
On the generic ballot for congressional elections, 44% of respondents said they would vote for Democrats, while 37% would vote for Republicans. This 7-point gap is the widest since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025. Furthermore, voters now pick Democrats over Republicans as the better party for economic policy, with 38% favoring Democrats compared to 37% for Republicans, a shift that has occurred over the summer.
Trump's popularity has reportedly declined since he initiated a war on Iran in February, which has disrupted oil shipments and driven fuel prices higher, impacting U.S. household finances. The poll also indicated that Trump's construction projects across Washington, including a White House ballroom, were polarizing, with 91% of Democrats opposing them and two-thirds of Americans considering them a low priority.