More than a year into President Donald Trump’s second term, new state-level polling suggests a decline in his approval ratings, according to a Newsweek analysis.
Key Observations
- Net approval has fallen in every state since Trump resumed office in January 2025.
- The most significant drops are in states that traditionally supported Republicans, as well as battleground states.
- States like Florida, Ohio, and Nevada have shifted to net disapproval.
- Initial pro-Trump advantages have dwindled, even in his strongest states.
- The political landscape still reflects a partisan divide, but with reduced margins.
These conclusions are based on data from Civiqs’ rolling online tracking poll of registered voters. The poll analyzed over 107,000 responses collected from January 2025 to May 2026. A comparison of state results from Trump’s first day of this term with the latest data shows a consistent decline in net approval.
Approval Rate Changes Across States
The data highlight specific states where Trump’s approval has significantly decreased:
- Wyoming: From +47 to +22, a drop of 25 points
- Kentucky: From +23 to 0, a drop of 23 points
- Nebraska: From +18 to -4, a drop of 22 points
- Alaska and Florida: Both fell by 21 points
- Oklahoma: From +31 to +10, a drop of 21 points
- Nevada: From 0 to -20, a drop of 20 points
Additional states like Idaho, Tennessee, and Montana also saw declines of 19 points, while Kansas and West Virginia decreased by 18 points.
Impact on Swing States
In critical battlegrounds, relatively small changes have significant implications:
- Florida: From +9 to -12
- Ohio: From +8 to -11
- Nevada: From 0 to -20
- Nebraska: From +18 to -4
States like Pennsylvania and North Carolina display competitiveness but continue the trend of slippage.
Deep Red and Blue States
Republican Strongholds
In traditional Republican states, Trump’s support remains positive, but margins have thinned significantly.
Democratic States
In Democratic-leaning states, opposition began strong and has become more entrenched. States like California, New York, and Massachusetts have seen deeper negative ratings.
Reasons for Decline
In many states, approval ratings dropped by 10 to 14 points, while disapproval increased by 8 to 11 points. The combination represents a broad change in voter sentiment.
An example is Wyoming, where both approval and disapproval moved:
Approval went from 72 to 58 (down 14). Disapproval rose from 25 to 36 (up 11), resulting in a net drop of 25 points.
Overall Political Landscape
Although Trump’s strongest states remain his strongest and his weakest remain firmly opposed, margins across the political spectrum have weakened. Initially, he held positive approval in many Republican areas, but shifts are apparent after more than a year into his term.
The White House’s Response
The White House dismisses the significance of these polls, citing Trump’s 2024 election victory as a clearer indication of public support. Spokesperson Davis Ingle emphasizes the focus on economic priorities and suggests the effects of the president’s policies will become clearer with time.