Analysis of the Decline in Presidential Approval Ratings Before the 2026 Midterms
Introduction
Recent data show a general decrease in President Donald Trump's approval ratings, particularly regarding his management of the economy, healthcare, and support from key groups of voters.
Main Body
Reports from CNN, Reuters/Ipsos, and YouGov show that public confidence in the administration's economic leadership has dropped significantly. Approval ratings for the economy are around 30 percent, while a CNN poll found that 70 percent of people disapprove. Similarly, healthcare disapproval has reached 65 percent, which is the lowest point for any U.S. president this century. Furthermore, the 'Make America Healthy Again' initiative, led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is losing support, as his favorability among independent voters has fallen sharply. Analysis of different age and ethnic groups reveals a sudden loss of support among Gen Z and Hispanic voters. According to The Economist/YouGov and AtlasIntel, approval among voters aged 18-29 dropped from positive levels in early 2025 to -76.6 by May 2026. Additionally, Pew Research Center data show that support among Hispanic voters who voted for the president in 2024 fell from 93 percent to 66 percent. These changes are very important because the administration relied on these voters for its success in Texas and Florida. These trends create challenges for the 2026 midterm elections, especially in key Senate states. A Morning Consult survey indicates that the president's net approval is negative in all seven critical states, with the worst result in Maine. Consequently, overall approval has fallen below 40 percent following military actions against Iran. Although the administration emphasizes that the 2024 election gave them a clear mandate, the data suggest a growing gap between government policy and public opinion on inflation and foreign affairs.
Conclusion
The administration is currently facing a decline in support across major policy areas and important voter groups as the midterm elections approach.
Learning
📈 The Art of 'Movement' Words
To move from A2 to B2, you must stop using "go up" and "go down" for everything. Professional English uses specific verbs to describe trends and changes.
Look at these phrases from the text:
- "Dropped significantly"
- "Fallen sharply"
- "Reached 65 percent"
⚡ The Power Pair: Verb + Adverb
An A2 student says: "The number went down a lot." A B2 student says: "Approval ratings dropped significantly."
Why this matters: Adding a precise adverb (like significantly or sharply) tells the reader exactly how the change happened. Was it a slow slide or a sudden crash?
🛠️ Upgrade Your Vocabulary
| A2 Level (Basic) | B2 Level (Advanced) | Context from Article |
|---|---|---|
| Go down | Decline / Drop | "...a decline in support" |
| Very fast | Sharply | "...fallen sharply" |
| A lot | Significantly | "...dropped significantly" |
| Get to | Reach | "...has reached 65 percent" |
💡 Pro Tip: The 'Net' Concept
The text mentions "net approval." In B2 English, Net doesn't just mean a fishing net; it means the final result after subtracting the negatives from the positives.
Example: If 40% love the president and 30% hate him, the net approval is +10%.