Reuters/Ipsos poll puts Trump approval at a record low of 31% as midterms near
Reuters reported in an exclusive that Trump's approval fell to a record low of 31% in its latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, as the midterms near. The Guardian reported that Trump continued a midterm campaign blitz in North Carolina to stump for Michael Whatley. The Guardian said Whatley faces an uphill battle against Democrat Roy Cooper for the Senate seat. The New York Times reported that MAGA Inc. is spending millions on targeted ads on Facebook and Instagram to turn out Republicans. The Times described the push as coming amid the party's midterm challenges.
A president's approval rating is a widely watched predictor of how many House and Senate seats his party holds, because midterm voters often use the election to react to the sitting president. A record low in a well-known poll raises pressure on Republican candidates in competitive races and explains why outside groups are paying for turnout efforts.
If you live in a competitive state, expect heavier ad spending and more candidate visits. The result can affect which party controls Congress next year and what legislation can pass.
Democrats and many analysts read the 31% figure as a sign Republicans are exposed in November, and the Guardian's description of Whatley's uphill race fits that reading.
Republican strategists point to the turnout spending by MAGA Inc. and Trump's personal campaigning as tools meant to offset a weak national number, since individual Senate races are decided state by state.
Confirmed: Reuters's 31% figure, Trump's North Carolina stop and the MAGA Inc. ad push. Not confirmed: the poll's sample and margin of error. Watch the next national polls and Senate polling in North Carolina.
DailyDrop U.S. No. 17 · October 21, 2026