# U.S. public dissatisfaction and political sentiment

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-public-dissatisfaction-and-political-sentiment
> Updated: 2026-10-18T09:56:05.000Z. Sources: 149. Developments: 2.

Public dissatisfaction in the United States has intensified regarding the nation’s democratic health and economic stability. Polling shows that 56 percent of respondents believe democracy is performing poorly at the national level, with growing pessimism noted among Republicans. Rural voters have expressed significant economic anxiety, with approximately half believing the economy is worse now than during Donald Trump’s previous term, citing the rising costs of groceries, gas, and healthcare.

As the November 3, 2026, midterm elections approach, President Trump’s approval has reached historic lows, with various polls placing it between 31 percent and 36 percent. This represents a significant decline from 45 percent in February 2025. Disapproval remains high, with 66 percent of respondents disapproving of his management. Drivers for this decline include the rising cost of living—specifically food, gas, and housing—and the ongoing conflict with Iran. Approximately 65 percent of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the administration's management of the war, and 71 percent described fuel prices as “unaffordable.” Recent data indicates that 68 percent of respondents are dissatisfied with his handling of the economy, a sentiment shared by 37 percent of self-identified Republicans.

In terms of congressional control, Democrats are gaining momentum. Likely voters support Democratic candidates over Republicans by an 8-percentage-point margin (52 percent to 44%), an increase from a 3-point margin in July. While Republicans have invested over $740 million in campaign spending, polling suggests significant challenges for the party in maintaining control of the House and Senate. Additionally, voting patterns are shifting; following criticisms of mail-in voting, requests for mail-in ballots have fallen in states like Georgia by 40%, while in-person early voting has increased significantly in states such as Wisconsin. Furthermore, support among Latino voters has seen a notable decline, with approval dropping from 38 percent to 24 percent since early 2025.

## Claims

- Donald Trump's approval rating is 33%. (disputed by 21 sources)
- 66% of respondents disapprove of Donald Trump's management. (corroborated by 21 sources)
- The decision to enter war against Iran has affected fuel prices. (corroborated by 17 sources)
- 72% of Americans believe the country is moving in the wrong direction. (corroborated by 16 sources)
- A joint poll was conducted by Ipsos, The Washington Post, and ABC News. (corroborated by 16 sources)
- 71% of respondents consider gasoline prices to be unaffordable. (corroborated by 15 sources)
- Trump's approval was 45% in February 2025. (corroborated by 15 sources)
- 52% of adults surveyed express strong disapproval of Trump's management. (corroborated by 15 sources)
- Democrats lead Republicans in congressional district elections by 8 percentage points among likely voters. (corroborated by 12 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-18: Donald Trump approval rating hits record low of 33% ahead of midterms

Donald Trump's approval rating has hit a record low of 33% ahead of the 2026 midterms. Discontent is driven by inflation and the Iran conflict, while Democrats hold an 8-point lead in congressional races.

146 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-voter-dissatisfaction-rises-ahead-of-midterm-elections

### 2026-09-23: U.S. public sentiment shows declining views on democracy and economy

New polls show rising pessimism in the U.S., with a majority of Americans viewing democracy poorly and rural voters expressing significant economic frustration regarding grocery and fuel costs.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-public-sentiment-shows-declining-views-on-democracy-and-economy

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Cite as: U.S. public dissatisfaction and political sentiment. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-public-dissatisfaction-and-political-sentiment