August 21, 2026

Donald Trump State Approval Ratings: A Detailed 2026 Guide to Where His Support Is Strongest and Weakest

donald trump state approval ratings

donald trump state approval ratings

Donald Trump State Approval Ratings approval rating is one of the most closely watched measures of political sentiment in the United States. While national polls provide a broad picture, Donald Trump state approval ratings offer a more detailed look at how voters across different parts of the country view his presidency.

State-level numbers can be especially important because American politics is not simply divided into one national electorate. Donald Trump State Approval Ratings can remain highly popular in some traditionally Republican states while facing significant opposition in Democratic states and even losing ground in several states that have become competitive in presidential elections.

Recent polling shows that Trump’s overall standing has weakened during 2026. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in August found that only 33% of Americans approved of his job performance, while 64% disapproved. That represented the lowest approval level recorded during his current presidency in that poll.

However, national approval should not be treated as a substitute for state polling. State numbers can reveal important differences in political identity, economic concerns, demographic trends, and attitudes toward Trump’s policies. That is why examining approval ratings state by state provides a much clearer picture of his political position.

What Are Donald Trump State Approval Ratings?

Donald Trump state approval ratings measure how residents of individual states feel about the president’s job performance. Pollsters generally ask voters whether they approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump State Approval Ratings Donald Trump State Approval Ratings is handling his responsibilities as president.

The most useful figure is often net approval, which is calculated by subtracting the percentage who disapprove from the percentage who approve. For example, if 55% approve and 40% disapprove, the president has a net approval rating of +15 points.

A positive net approval rating means more people approve than disapprove. A negative number means the opposite. This measurement makes it easier to compare states, especially when approval levels are relatively close.

It is also important to understand that state approval ratings are estimates rather than permanent measurements. Polls are conducted during specific periods, and opinions can change quickly after major economic developments, international events, presidential decisions, or political controversies.

Morning Consult’s state tracker, for example, uses rolling three-month data from surveys of registered voters in all 50 states. Its methodology also notes that margins of error vary by state, with smaller states generally having larger margins of error.

Donald Trump State Approval Ratings in 2026

The 2026 state-level picture shows a clear geographic divide. Donald Trump State Approval Ratings continues to perform much better in strongly Republican states, while his approval is considerably weaker in Democratic states and many competitive battlegrounds.

Civiqs tracking reported in July showed Donald Trump State Approval Ratings underwater in every major swing state included in its comparison. Arizona was at 42% approval and 53% disapproval, while Georgia stood at 36% approval and 57% disapproval.

Michigan was also negative, with 38% approving and 57% disapproving. Nevada recorded 38% approval against 56% disapproval, while Pennsylvania had 41% approval and 54% disapproval.

Wisconsin showed 41% approval and 55% disapproval, while North Carolina recorded 41% approval and 54% disapproval. These figures matter because these states have played an important role in recent presidential elections.

At the same time, Donald Trump State Approval Ratings remained considerably stronger in some deeply conservative states. Earlier Morning Consult state-level tracking found that Wyoming had the strongest approval rating, with 64% of voters approving of his performance, while Vermont was at the opposite end with 66% disapproving.

States Where Donald Trump Has the Strongest Support

Trump’s strongest state-level support generally comes from areas where Republican identification is dominant. Wyoming is a particularly clear example. The state’s political culture has consistently been among the most conservative in the country, giving Donald Trump State Approval Ratings a large advantage with Republican voters.

Other strongly Republican states also tend to produce better numbers for Trump. North Dakota, West Virginia, Idaho, Alabama, Oklahoma, and South Dakota have historically provided strong support for Republican presidential candidates, and state-level approval data reflects much of that political alignment.

A July 2026 compilation based on Civiqs tracking showed positive net approval in Wyoming, North Dakota, West Virginia, Idaho, Alabama, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Indiana, and Kansas. Wyoming was listed at +24 net approval, followed by North Dakota at +18 and West Virginia at +16.

These figures demonstrate an important point about presidential approval. A president can have weak national numbers while maintaining a strong political base in particular states. Trump’s supporters in conservative states may continue to approve of his immigration policies, economic agenda, judicial appointments, cultural positions, or foreign-policy approach even when voters elsewhere have become more critical.

States Where Donald Trump Has the Weakest Approval

The weakest Donald Trump State Approval Ratings approval ratings are generally found in states where Democratic voters significantly outnumber Republican voters. California, Hawaii, Vermont, Maryland, Massachusetts, Washington, and Oregon are examples of states where his approval has been substantially below his support in conservative parts of the country.

The July Civiqs-based figures showed particularly large negative net approval numbers in Hawaii, Vermont, Maryland, Massachusetts, California, Oregon, and Washington. Hawaii was reported at -59 net approval, while Vermont stood at -55 and Maryland at -50.

California provides another useful example. Because the state has a large Democratic electorate, Trump’s approval has remained considerably lower than in Republican strongholds. The same pattern appears in several northeastern states, where Democratic identification and opposition to Trump’s political agenda are relatively strong.

These numbers should not be interpreted simply as evidence that every voter in a blue state opposes Trump. State averages combine Republicans, Democrats, independents, and voters with different political priorities. Instead, the figures demonstrate how strongly state political environments influence presidential approval.

Trump’s Approval in Key Swing States

Swing states deserve special attention because their voters can have a much greater effect on presidential elections than voters in states that are reliably Democratic or Republican. Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin are among the states that analysts closely monitor.

Recent Civiqs tracking showed Donald Trump State Approval Ratings underwater in all of these major swing states. Georgia was particularly weak, with 36% approval and 57% disapproval. Michigan recorded 38% approval and 57% disapproval, while Nevada had 38% approval and 56% disapproval.

Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were also negative. Donald Trump State Approval Ratings had 41% approval and 54% disapproval in Pennsylvania, while Wisconsin recorded 41% approval and 55% disapproval. These figures are important because small shifts among independent voters can have an outsized effect in closely divided states.

North Carolina presents an especially interesting case because it has traditionally leaned Republican in presidential politics but has become increasingly competitive. Its reported 41% approval and 54% disapproval figure illustrates why Trump’s national political position cannot be understood simply by looking at the states that voted most strongly for him.

Why Trump’s Approval Ratings Have Changed

Several factors appear to be influencing Trump’s approval numbers in 2026. Economic conditions are one of the biggest considerations. Voters often judge presidents by inflation, gasoline prices, employment, household expenses, and their personal financial situation.

Recent national polling has shown significant economic dissatisfaction. A Financial Times/Focaldata poll reported that more than half of registered voters surveyed said they were financially worse off under Trump, while concerns about inflation and the cost of living remained particularly strong.

Foreign policy has also become increasingly important. The ongoing conflict involving Iran has affected public perceptions of Trump’s leadership, particularly as concerns about the length of the conflict and gasoline prices have grown.

Reuters reported in August that Trump’s approval had fallen to 33% in its latest Ipsos poll, with dissatisfaction over the Iran conflict and economic consequences contributing to the decline. The poll found that 64% disapproved of his job performance.

How Republican and Independent Voters View Trump

Trump’s support among Republicans remains much stronger than his support among Democrats. That is not surprising because presidential approval is heavily influenced by partisan identity.

However, even within the Republican Party, approval can move depending on the issue and political circumstances. Recent reporting has indicated that Trump’s approval among Republicans has weakened compared with earlier periods of his second term, particularly around economic concerns and the Iran conflict.

Independent voters are especially important because they can shift between parties and candidates. A president who performs well among independents can maintain competitive numbers even when opposition from the other party is extremely high.

State-level approval ratings therefore need to be examined alongside party identification. A negative overall rating in a swing state does not automatically mean every Republican voter has turned against Trump. Instead, it may indicate that Democrats are strongly opposed, Republicans remain supportive, and independents are moving away from the president.

Donald Trump State Approval Ratings and the 2026 Midterms

The state approval picture could have important consequences for the 2026 midterm elections. Midterm elections are often shaped by presidential approval because voters use congressional races as an opportunity to reward or punish the party controlling the White House.

Trump’s current numbers are creating challenges for Republicans in several competitive states. Recent reporting has highlighted warning signs in states such as Texas and Iowa, where some Republican-held or Republican-leaning contests have become more competitive.

The situation is especially important in states where Donald Trump State Approval Ratings won comfortably but where his approval has since declined. A president does not need to become unpopular everywhere for his party to face electoral problems. Even modest changes among suburban voters, independents, or specific demographic groups can make congressional races more competitive.

Still, approval ratings are not election results. Candidates, campaign spending, local issues, redistricting, turnout, and the quality of individual congressional campaigns can all influence the final outcome. Recent AP reporting, for example, notes that Democratic enthusiasm has increased in several states, but analysts caution that strong primary turnout does not automatically translate into general-election victories.

What State Approval Ratings Tell Us About Trump’s Political Future

The biggest lesson from the state numbers is that Trump’s political support remains highly uneven. He can be deeply unpopular in states such as Hawaii or Vermont while maintaining strong approval in Wyoming and other conservative states.

That geographic divide is a defining feature of modern American politics. The country is not simply moving toward or away from Donald Trump State Approval Ratings as one unified electorate. Instead, different states are responding differently to the same administration.

The swing-state numbers are arguably the most important part of the picture. When Donald Trump State Approval Ratings is underwater in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, it suggests that his national political challenges extend beyond traditionally Democratic states.

At the same time, state polling should always be treated as a snapshot rather than a prediction. Approval ratings can change after major economic reports, international developments, legislative victories, scandals, or campaign events. The numbers available today may look very different several months from now.

Final Thoughts on Donald Trump State Approval Ratings

Donald Trump state approval ratings provide a useful window into the country’s political mood. They show where his presidency remains popular, where opposition is strongest, and which competitive states could become important battlegrounds during the 2026 midterm elections.

The current data points to a president with strong support in several deeply Republican states but negative approval in many Democratic states and major swing states. That contrast helps explain why Trump’s national political position can look complicated even when his core Republican base remains relatively loyal.

The most significant concern for Republicans is not necessarily Trump’s performance in states that were already overwhelmingly Democratic. Those states were unlikely to determine the political balance of Congress. The bigger issue is whether declining approval in competitive states translates into lower Republican turnout or greater support for Democratic candidates.

For voters, analysts, and anyone following American politics, the best approach is to watch both national and state-level polling. National approval tells us about the country as a whole, while state approval ratings reveal where political changes are actually taking place.

As 2026 continues, Trump’s state approval ratings will remain an important indicator of the political environment. The numbers will likely move as economic conditions, foreign policy, immigration, and the approaching midterm elections shape public opinion. For now, the clearest pattern is a divided map: Donald Trump State Approval Ratings remains highly competitive in his strongest Republican territory, but his approval is underwater across many of the states that could determine the next major chapter in American politics.

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