Trump’s Approval Rating Narrows Across the Political Landscape
Nearly 18 months into his second term, President Donald Trump faces a shifting political map, highlighted by a partisan divide and reduced early advantages. According to data from Civiqs’ online poll of 117,851 registered voters, America’s familiar political landscape persists, but with notable changes.
Current Approval Rating
On July 17, 2026, Trump’s approval stood at 37%, while his disapproval reached 58%, resulting in a net approval of -21 nationally. The state-by-state results mirror this pattern, with strong approval in Republican regions and significant disapproval in Democratic areas, impacting battleground states.
Performance in Republican Strongholds
Trump maintains strong support in Republican states like Wyoming (+24), North Dakota (+18), and Idaho (+14), despite a noticeable decline since January 2025.
Wyoming, initially at +47, now stands at +24. Kentucky, a clear example of change, shifted from +23 to 0. Overall, Republican support remains, but margins are thinner.
Challenges in Swing States
The battleground states show Trump underwater. Arizona (-11), Georgia (-21), and Nevada (-21) are some of the states where approval dropped significantly from early 2025 levels. Small shifts may influence the 2026 congressional control.
Deep Blue States’ Strong Opposition
Trump faces entrenched opposition in Democratic territories; Hawaii (-59), Vermont (-55), and Maryland (-50) display consistently negative ratings. These states maintain firm opposition toward Trump.
Demographic Divides
Approval disparities reflect demographic differences. Trump struggles especially among young voters (18-34 years: 24% approve, 69% disapprove) and independents (30% approval, 63% disapproval). Women are predominantly disapproving (64% disapprove, 31% approve).
Education influences approval ratings, with postgraduates showing 25% approval against 71% disapproval, whereas non-college graduates exhibit a narrower difference.
States with Declining Approval
Every state reported lower approval ratings since January 2025, with Republican states showing significant declines. Wyoming fell 23 points, from +47 to +24. Florida dropped from +9 to -12, while Nevada shifted from 0 to -21.
Declines in Republican-leaning states reflect a complex political narrative.
Tightening Middle Map
The map now displays narrower margins between positive and negative ratings in several states. Indiana (+3), Utah (+4), and Kansas (+3) are near equilibrium, signifying familiar partisan trends with narrowed state-level margins.
Overall Map Trends
Eighteen months into Trump’s term, the map remains broadly the same with strong Republican and Democratic areas. However, approval margins decline.
Initially, Trump had high approval in Republican states and competitive battlegrounds, but now many states show narrowed or negative ratings.
White House Response
The White House highlights Trump’s 2024 victory as the ultimate public approval measure. Spokesman Davis Ingle reiterated the success of Trump’s agenda and referred to the election as a mandate for his plans.