President Donald Trump‘s approval rating remains underwater, according to a poll conducted by a Republican-leaning pollster.
The latest RMG Research/Napolitan News poll, conducted between May 20 and 29 among 3,000 registered voters, found 49 percent approve of the way Trump is doing his job, while 50 percent disapprove. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.8 percentage points.
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Why It Matters
There has been some evidence of Trump’s approval rating ticking up slightly after a period of decline following the introduction of his “Liberation Day” tariffs in April.
But Trump’s approval rating remaining in the negative, albeit within the margin of error, with a Republican-leaning pollster could be a sign of alarm for the White House.
What To Know
The latest RMG Research/Napolitan News poll found Trump’s approval rating has improved very slightly from a survey conducted in mid-May.
The earlier survey showed Trump’s approval rating had dipped into negative territory, with 48 percent approving of the job he is doing and 50 percent disapproving.
Only one other RMG Research/Napolitan News poll conducted during Trump’s second term has seen the president with a net negative approval rating. A survey conducted in mid-April, days after he unveiled his “Liberation Day” tariffs, sending stock markets into a tailspin and sparking recession fears, saw his approval rating at -3, with 48 percent approving of Trump’s performance and 51 percent disapproving.
All other surveys have seen Trump with an approval rating above water, with the highest approval rating of +18 coming in a survey conducted the week Trump returned to office in January, when 57 percent approving of the job he was doing and just 39 percent disapproving.
What People Are Saying
Political analyst Robert Collins, a professor at Dillard University, told Newsweek last week that Trump’s approval rating is “inching up because the economy has stabilized and Trump has put a pause on his most draconian tariffs, which were unpopular.
“However, if those draconian tariffs do go into effect, due to trade negotiations breaking down, and it causes prices to spike, then we can expect his approval rating to go back down. The current number is historically a little low for a president during this part of his second term, but not outside of the normal range.”
Democratic pollster Matt McDermott previously told Newsweek that small shifts in polls are “statistical noise,” not signs of growing support.
“What we’re seeing is stagnation, not momentum,” he said.
“Trump is hoping to shift blame for a weakening economy, but it’s not going to work. Voters know exactly who’s responsible.”
What’s Next
Trump’s approval rating will likely play a major role for the GOP in the 2026 midterm elections.