Former President Donald Trump is facing a major political setback as his approval rating sinks to its lowest point of his second term, according to a newly released national poll. The numbers, which dropped amid the ongoing government shutdown, reflect growing frustration across party lines — and signal a potentially dangerous shift in how voters are viewing his leadership during a critical moment.
The poll, conducted by Pew Research Center, found that Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 34%, a sharp decline from just two months ago. The drop coincides with the second week of the partial government shutdown, which has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed, airport security lines stretched thin, and public frustration boiling over. “This is a clear sign that even some of his core supporters are growing uneasy,” one pollster told Reuters.
The survey revealed that 62% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the shutdown, with nearly half blaming him directly for the gridlock in Washington. Even among self-identified Republicans, approval of his handling of the crisis has dipped by nine points compared to earlier this year. Among independents, support has cratered — with only 27% approving of his performance.
“Trump’s approval rating has plummeted to 34% amid the government shutdown — his lowest point since taking office.” — @Reuters
The ongoing shutdown began after Trump vowed to block a spending bill that did not include full funding for his controversial immigration and border security package. The political standoff has led to mass disruptions at airports, delays in government services, and mounting economic pressure. Economists told CNN that the shutdown has already cost billions of dollars in lost productivity and wages, adding even more pressure on the administration.
Public sentiment is turning fast. According to the poll, 70% of respondents said they are “angry” or “frustrated” with the current state of the government, while only 15% expressed confidence that leaders in Washington can resolve the crisis soon. “These numbers are devastating,” said a political analyst speaking to MSNBC. “Even for a figure like Trump, who’s built a career on polarization, this kind of broad frustration is a real warning sign.”
Among the most striking findings in the survey is a dramatic dip in Trump’s numbers among suburban voters and working-class families — two groups that played a crucial role in securing his previous victories. One respondent told The New York Times, “I voted for him twice. But now, watching this mess, I just don’t see a plan. I see a fight that’s hurting regular people.”
“I voted for him twice, but now… I just don’t see a plan. I see a fight that’s hurting regular people.” — @nytimes
Trump, however, is not backing down. In a fiery post on X (formerly Twitter), he dismissed the poll numbers as “fake,” blaming “corrupt media and weak Republicans” for what he called “a temporary setback.” He also doubled down on his demand for full funding, saying he “will not cave to Democrats’ open-border agenda.”
But behind the bravado, some of Trump’s allies are growing concerned. A senior Republican strategist told Politico that the polling “confirms what we’re hearing on the ground” — a growing sense of unease among voters who once viewed Trump as a strong negotiator. “The problem isn’t just the shutdown,” the strategist said. “It’s the feeling that he’s lost control of the narrative.”
“The problem isn’t just the shutdown — it’s the feeling that he’s lost control of the narrative.” — @politico
The shutdown’s impact is also being felt far beyond Washington. Across the country, federal employees have staged walkouts and protests demanding an end to the standoff. Social media has been flooded with heartbreaking stories of families struggling to pay rent or buy groceries. Viral posts under the hashtag #ShutdownStories have captured the growing sense of despair — and many of those frustrations are being directed at Trump himself.
“This is hurting real people,” said one TSA worker in an interview with The Washington Post. “We’re working without pay while they argue on TV. And the President doesn’t seem to care.” That sentiment is reflected in the poll, with 78% of respondents saying the political class is “out of touch” with ordinary Americans.
Not everyone is abandoning Trump. A solid majority of his most loyal base — about 72% of self-described MAGA Republicans — still approve of his handling of the crisis. Many echoed his claims that Democrats are to blame for the stalemate. But analysts say even small dips in loyalty among other factions of the Republican Party could spell trouble for Trump in future elections if the shutdown continues much longer.
“These are real cracks in the foundation of his support.” — @CNNPolitics
Meanwhile, Democratic leaders are seizing on the moment, pointing to the polling numbers as proof that the American public blames Trump. “This isn’t about partisanship,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a press briefing covered by NBC News. “This is about one man holding the country hostage for a political stunt.”
As the standoff stretches on, economists warn that the financial toll could escalate dramatically in the coming weeks. Experts from The Brookings Institution estimate that if the shutdown lasts another month, it could shave billions off the national GDP and trigger wider ripple effects across industries dependent on government services. For Trump, that could translate to even more political damage if numbers continue to sink.
For now, the President appears determined to stay the course, even as polls turn against him. His aides told reporters that Trump sees the shutdown as a “battle worth fighting,” even at the cost of short-term popularity. But with approval ratings sliding to their lowest point since he returned to office, the political gamble is growing riskier by the day.
