Donald Trump’s approval rating underwater on three key issues

New polling shows President Donald Trump in negative territory on immigration, foreign policy and the economy, with overall job approval also slipping as the midterm cycle approaches.

Newsweek contacted the White House for comment outside of regular working hours.

White House spokesman Davis Ingle told Newsweek in an emailed statement last week, “The ultimate poll was November 5, 2024, when nearly 80 million Americans overwhelmingly elected President Trump to deliver on his popular and common-sense agenda.”

Why It Matters

Voters are expressing frustration with how key issues are being handled, according to national polling data. 

With the 2026 midterms looming, issue-level dissatisfaction could shape turnout and congressional control.

What To Know

A new national survey from Echelon Insights shows Trump underwater on several issues that most often drive voter decisions.

The March Omnibus Survey, which holds an “A” rating from pollster analysts, between March 12 and March 16, 2026 polled 1,033 registered voters in the likely electorate nationwide and carried a plus or minus 3.4 percentage points margin of error.

On immigration, Trump’s net approval stood at minus 12, according to this poll. 

His foreign policy numbers were weaker still, with net approval at minus 21, a notable slide from minus 13 in the previous month. 

The economy, traditionally one of Trump’s stronger areas with core supporters, was also at minus 21.

Overall job approval reflected the same downward pressure. 

Some 41 percent of respondents approved of Trump’s performance, down three points from the prior reading, while 57 percent disapproved, up two points.

The survey also tested the generic congressional ballot, a key indicator ahead of midterm elections. 

Democrats led Republicans by five points, 49 percent to 44 percent, representing a one‑point dip for Democrats and a two‑point decline for Republicans since last month.

Brett Loyd, a polling and research specialist for the Independent Center, said issue‑level numbers point to a deeper structural challenge rather than a simple partisan swing. 

Issue approval, he told Newsweek, is “a massive indicator,” but dissatisfaction does not always translate cleanly into votes for the opposition. According to the Independent Center’s website, its aim is to be “resource hub and champion for the millions of Americans who believe we share common ground.”

“We’ve got a real ‘option’ problem in America right now,” Loyd said. “Just because someone thinks the president handles the economy or immigration like garbage doesn’t automatically mean they’re flipping to the other side. Both parties are underwater, and voters are often just picking the lesser of two evils.”

That dynamic helps explain why Trump’s issue ratings can be sharply negative while the generic ballot remains relatively close. 

Voters may be unhappy, but many are not fully sold on the alternative.

What People Are Saying

Loyd told Newsweek: “Issue trust is the real game-changer here. You can tell me someone’s age or where they live, and I’m still basically guessing, but tell me if they’re ‘sour’ or ‘happy’ with the economy and I’ve got a much better lead on their vote. 

“At the end of the day, if a voter feels like the economy isn’t working for them, they’re going to vote for change regardless of what demographic bucket they fall into.”

White House spokesman Davis Ingle told Newsweek in an earlier emailed statement: “The ultimate poll was November 5, 2024, when nearly 80 million Americans overwhelmingly elected President Trump to deliver on his popular and common-sense agenda. 

“The president has already made historic progress not only in America but around the world. It is not surprising that President Trump remains the most dominant figure in American politics.”

President Donald Trump has publicly dismissed unfavorable polling in recent weeks, telling the New York Post about low approval tied to the Iran war: “I think that the polling is very good, but I don’t care about polling. I have to do the right thing. This should have been done a long time ago.”

What Happens Next

Attention is likely to shift toward how economic conditions, foreign policy developments and immigration enforcement evolve through the summer and fall, particularly as campaigns begin framing the midterms as a referendum on Trump’s second term. 

With control of Congress at stake, both parties will be watching whether issue dissatisfaction hardens into voting behavior or remains a reflection of broader voter unease.