President Trump Faces 39 Percent Approval Rating as Independent Support Craters Before State of the Union

New polling from ABC and CNN reveals President Trump faces a 39 percent approval rating and rising independent disapproval before his State of the Union address.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 24, 2026, 4:05 AM EST

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Politico

Plunging Approval Ratings and Independent Dissatisfaction

President Donald Trump enters the Capitol for his annual State of the Union address facing a sharply critical American electorate. According to a Washington Post ABC News Ipsos poll released Sunday only 39 percent of Americans approve of his job performance. Even more striking is the intensity of the opposition with 47 percent of respondents stating they strongly disapprove of the president. The data highlights a precarious position for the White House as it attempts to frame the national narrative for the coming year.

The most significant shift in the political landscape is the rapid erosion of support among independent voters. A CNN survey conducted by SSRS indicates that approval among this crucial demographic has plummeted to 26 percent. This represents a 15 point decline from February 2025 suggesting that the administration is losing its grip on the middle of the electorate. This trend among independents is often a precursor to broader electoral challenges during midterm cycles.

Economic and Immigration Policy Under Fire

Public sentiment has soured on the specific policy pillars that defined the Trump platform. Despite the administration’s focus on border security 58 percent of adults now disapprove of the president’s handling of immigration. The economic outlook is equally grim in the eyes of the public with 57 percent disapproving of general economic management. These figures suggest that the aggressive trade and border policies of the last year have yet to translate into perceived benefits for a majority of citizens.

Inflation and trade barriers remain the primary pain points for the American consumer. The polling data reveals that 65 percent of Americans disapprove of the administration’s handling of inflation while 64 percent are critical of the current tariff strategies. These numbers indicate a growing disconnect between the White House’s economic messaging and the lived reality of rising costs for households across the country.