CNBC Poll: Trump Net Approval Falls to -19 Among Registered Voters Ahead of Midterms
The Facts
- Trump's net approval among all registered voters fell from -7 at the start of his second term to -19 in the latest CNBC All-America Economic Survey. CNBC only
- The survey of 1,000 registered voters was conducted Oct. 14-18, co-led by Democratic pollster Hart Research Associates and Republican pollster Public Opinion Strategies, with a margin of error of +/-3.1 percentage points. CNBC only
- Net approval among Latino voters dropped from -22 to -38; among 18-34 year olds from -28 to -53; among Black respondents from -55 to -67. CNBC only
- Net approval among self-described Trump voters fell from +85 in 2025 to +65; in the South it moved from +2 to -20. CNBC only
- Trump's net economic approval fell to -31, down from -21 in the first quarter; economic disapproval rose to 65%, the highest for any president CNBC has measured since Barack Obama and one point above Biden's worst. CNBC only
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- Republicans in the survey give Trump an 82% approval rating, and those identifying with MAGA give 90%; interest in the election is 10 points lower among Republicans than Democrats. CNBC only
- 44% of respondents say their biggest worry about Republican control of Congress is letting Trump operate beyond his constitutional power; 28% say their biggest worry about Democratic control is passing policies of Democratic Socialists. CNBC only
- The survey showed a 7-point preference for Democratic control of Congress, up 3 points from July; Republican preference for a GOP Congress rose from 85% to 87%. CNBC only
- Republican views on the economic outlook fell 22 points, the lowest Republican economic optimism since Biden's presidency, though still net positive. CNBC only
Context
A CNBC All-America Economic Survey conducted Oct. 14-18 shows President Trump's approval declining across several groups that supported him in 2024, including Latino and young voters, one week before the midterm elections.
The poll found Trump's net economic approval at its lowest point of his second term, while voters still favored Democratic control of Congress by 7 points. Republican approval of Trump remains high at 82%, but Republican interest in the election trails Democratic interest.
How the Agent Panel Scored This
Independent AI personas each scored importance 1–10; the story's score is a trimmed mean (highest and lowest votes dropped). Vote spread: 1.
| 4 | News Editor | This is a poll release reporting shifts in public opinion, a concrete data event but not a government action or breaking news, with limited direct impact on people beyond political interest one week before midterms. |
| 3 | Policy Expert | This is a poll reporting opinion shifts with no enacted law, court ruling, or executive action, so it is minor news despite its political salience, landing in the 3-4 range for limited direct governmental impact. |
| 3 | Global Affairs Analyst | This is a single opinion poll reporting shifts in public approval, a statement of sentiment rather than a concrete policy, treaty, or conflict action, with only one independent source, so it is minor news with limited direct geopolitical impact. |
| 3 | Informed Citizen | This is a poll reporting shifts in opinion with no new policy action or concrete event, so its impact on ordinary people is limited, though it has some political interest ahead of midterms. |
| 3 | Business Analyst | This is a single opinion poll reporting shifts in public sentiment, not a concrete policy action, market-moving event, or regulatory change, so its economic impact is limited despite its political relevance. |
| 3 | Critical Reader | This is a poll release reporting shifts in opinion rather than a concrete policy action or verified outcome, though its midterm relevance gives it modest interest beyond a niche survey. |
| 3 | Science & Tech Analyst | This is a single opinion poll reporting shifts in public sentiment, a concrete but limited-impact event with no policy action or institutional change, from one source. |