Former U.S. President Donald Trump is facing one of the steepest drops in public support of his political career, according to a new nationwide poll showing his approval rating has sunk to its lowest point in years — 19 points underwater. The survey, conducted this week by Pew Research Center, paints a bleak picture for Trump as growing numbers of voters express fatigue, frustration, and doubt about his ability to lead again.
According to the findings, just 38% of Americans now approve of Trump’s performance and overall conduct in public life, while 57% disapprove — a staggering reversal from the post-indictment sympathy surge he briefly enjoyed earlier this year. Analysts say the data reflects what one described to political reporters as “Trump burnout syndrome.”
“He’s still the loudest voice in the room, but fewer people are listening,” said one Republican strategist. “The energy that once defined his movement is starting to fracture — even among his own base.”
“Trump’s approval rating falls to lowest level in three years — 19 points underwater.” @PopBase
The poll shows dramatic erosion in key demographics that once formed the backbone of Trump’s political power. Support among suburban voters has fallen by 11 points since July, while independents — who helped fuel his initial rise — now disapprove by a margin of more than two-to-one. Even within Republican ranks, cracks are emerging. “It’s not a collapse,” one campaign aide told NBC News. “But it’s the most concerned I’ve seen our team in a long time.”
Trump’s unfavorable numbers have been driven, in part, by a string of controversies — from his explosive remarks about Ukraine and NATO to his recent threats to “purge” the Justice Department if reelected. But pollsters say it’s not just politics. “The public is reacting to chaos,” explained analyst Samuel Gregg. “Every new outburst, every legal twist, every late-night post — it’s exhaustion setting in.”
In one particularly revealing section of the poll, only 22% of respondents said they trusted Trump to “tell the truth about important national issues,” compared to 63% who said they believed he “frequently lies.” That number includes 1 in 5 registered Republicans — a striking sign of erosion inside his own tent.
“Only 38% of Americans say they approve of Trump. That’s a 7-point drop since summer.” @PopTingz
The poll arrives amid new internal turbulence at Trump’s campaign headquarters, where aides are reportedly frustrated by his unfiltered rants on Truth Social. “He doesn’t want advice — he wants applause,” one insider said. “We’re trying to run a campaign; he’s trying to run a show.”
On the global stage, Trump’s remarks about “leaving Ukraine as it is” and calling NATO “a dying alliance” have alienated even some foreign-policy conservatives who once admired his nationalist vision. Former State Department official Daniel Fried told journalists that the new polling “shouldn’t surprise anyone.” “He’s not just losing votes — he’s losing credibility,” Fried said. “And credibility is the currency of politics.”
Adding to the problem, new data from Ipsos shows younger Americans overwhelmingly rejecting Trump’s message. Among voters under 35, only 26% view him favorably — his lowest figure in over five years. “This generation doesn’t respond to fear tactics,” said pollster Celeste O’Connor. “They respond to empathy and vision. Trump offers neither.”
“Poll shows Trump underwater by 19 points nationally — his lowest since 2017.” @buzzingpop
Yet, despite the dismal numbers, Trump remains defiant. Speaking at a rally in Arizona over the weekend, he dismissed the polls as “fake propaganda” and told supporters that “the silent majority is louder than ever.” He went on to claim, without evidence, that internal polling shows him “winning every state that matters.”
“They said I was finished in 2016 — look how that turned out,” Trump shouted to cheers. “They said I’d lose in 2020 — well, you know what happened there.” The crowd erupted into chants of “TRUMP 2028!” as the former president grinned. “We’re going to finish what we started,” he said, his voice booming through the packed arena.
Still, political analysts caution that enthusiasm at rallies doesn’t necessarily translate to electoral strength. “His base remains rabidly loyal,” noted journalist Thomas Garrett in an analysis, “but it’s shrinking, not expanding. The problem for Trump isn’t intensity — it’s math.”
Even some conservative media figures are acknowledging the shift. One Fox News panel discussion this week saw host Brian Kilmeade admitting that “voters are signaling fatigue,” while co-host Jessica Tarlov pointed out that Trump’s “polarizing effect has reached a ceiling — and possibly a wall.”
Meanwhile, Democrats have seized on the polling as proof that Trump’s brand is faltering. A senior adviser to President Biden told reporters that the administration’s re-election campaign plans to “remind Americans of the chaos they escaped.” “Every tweet, every tantrum, every meltdown — we’ll make sure voters remember exactly what that felt like,” the adviser said.
“Democrats say new Trump poll proves the public’s had enough of chaos and ego politics.” @etnow
Still, others warn that underestimating Trump would be a mistake. “He’s survived every political obituary written about him,” said Republican consultant Blake Harris. “As long as there’s outrage, there’s oxygen — and Trump knows how to breathe it in better than anyone.”
For now, though, the numbers tell a story Trump can’t spin away: a nation increasingly weary of his presence. “It’s not hate — it’s exhaustion,” said one voter quoted in the Pew survey. “He’s just… too much. It’s time to move on.”
Whether that exhaustion translates into political extinction remains to be seen. But as his approval plummets and allies whisper about strategy “resets,” even some within the Republican National Committee are beginning to ask the unthinkable — is Trump’s era finally starting to fade?
