Donald Trump is facing one of the worst approval ratings of his political career after presiding over the longest government shutdown in U.S. history — a crisis that even some of his own allies are calling “self-inflicted.” According to fresh polling released by Pew Research, the former president’s support has plunged to just 33%, marking his lowest rating since leaving the White House — and breaking his own record for unpopularity during his 2019 shutdown.
The 2025 standoff, triggered by Trump’s refusal to sign a bipartisan funding bill without new border wall provisions, has entered its sixth week, with millions of federal workers still unpaid. While Trump continues to blame Democrats for the impasse, the public appears unconvinced. “People are suffering while he’s boasting about breaking records,” one analyst told NBC News. “It’s hurting him — badly.”
In a fiery post on Truth Social, Trump downplayed the poll numbers, calling them “fake, rigged, and meaningless,” before declaring that the shutdown is “the only way to save America from total chaos.” The post came just hours after Reuters confirmed that federal food assistance programs, air traffic systems, and several national parks are on the verge of collapse.
“Trump’s approval falls to 33% amid record-breaking shutdown — the lowest since 2019.” @ABCPolitics
“This shutdown is doing what years of investigations couldn’t,” one former Trump aide told The Guardian. “It’s showing voters what happens when governing becomes performance art.”
The damage is not limited to public opinion. Economic forecasters estimate that the shutdown has already cost the U.S. economy more than $28 billion, surpassing the 2019 figure that once set the record. Wall Street analysts are warning that prolonged instability could trigger a slowdown if federal contracts and infrastructure projects continue to stall. “Investors can’t price in uncertainty,” one economist told The Wall Street Journal. “And Trump thrives on it.”
While Trump publicly insists the shutdown will be worth it, insiders describe growing concern within his campaign about the political fallout. “Privately, his team is panicking,” a Republican strategist confided to Axios. “They know that every day the government stays closed, his poll numbers sink further — and this time, it’s not Obama, Biden, or anyone else to blame.”
“Federal workers go unpaid for 40 days as Trump’s approval hits new low.” @CNNPolitics
Even conservative voices are beginning to break ranks. Fox commentator Ben Domenech described the situation as “a political kamikaze mission,” adding, “He’s not hurting Democrats — he’s hurting ordinary Americans.” Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has reportedly urged Trump to “find an exit strategy” before the damage becomes irreversible.
But Trump, ever defiant, told supporters during a rally in Florida that he’s proud of his stance. “We’re fighting for America’s borders — not for the swamp,” he shouted to thunderous applause. “They can take their fake polls and shove them!”
His words echoed across conservative media, where loyalists framed the shutdown as proof of Trump’s “uncompromising strength.” Still, that narrative is struggling to hold up as federal workers flood X with stories of unpaid bills, food insecurity, and growing desperation. “I voted for him,” one TSA agent wrote, “but this is not what patriotism looks like.”
According to Gallup’s latest findings, Trump’s disapproval among independents has soared to 64%, while his favorability among Republicans has dipped to 76% — down nearly 10 points from just two months ago. That drop is especially alarming given the loyalty his base has maintained through years of scandals, indictments, and investigations. “This is erosion,” Gallup analyst Megan Peters explained. “Not collapse, but erosion — and it’s significant.”
“Trump’s 2025 approval rating hits 33%, lowest ever recorded for him.” @Reuters
Democrats have seized on the poll as evidence that voters are growing weary of Trump’s chaos. President Biden, speaking during a press conference about the stalled budget, said, “Government is supposed to work for the people — not against them.” His comments drew sharp contrast to Trump’s insistence that “some pain is necessary for real change.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s closest allies have scrambled to defend him, suggesting that the polls are “fake news” and that “real Americans” support the shutdown. “He’s doing what no one else has the guts to do,” Newsmax host Greg Kelly said on air. “He’s protecting the border — even if it costs him politically.”
Still, others within Trump’s orbit are privately less confident. A former White House staffer told Politico that “every major donor is on edge” and that “some are questioning whether Trump’s shutdown strategy could cost him the election.” The aide added that staff morale is “rock bottom” as internal divisions deepen over how to end the crisis without appearing weak.
While Trump continues to double down, analysts believe his numbers could fall even further if the shutdown extends into another month. “The political cost of this will outlast the shutdown itself,” said historian Dr. Alan Lichtman. “He’s betting his brand on chaos — but at some point, even his base gets tired of the noise.”
As thousands of federal workers line up at food banks and key infrastructure projects grind to a halt, one question now looms over Washington: will Trump blink? For now, all signs suggest no. And for a president who built his reputation on breaking records, this one — the lowest approval rating of his life — may prove the hardest to celebrate.
