FT poll: Donald Trump’s approval falls to record low ahead of midterm elections

Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to its lowest level in a Financial Times poll ahead of November’s midterm elections, with voters increasingly dissatisfied with the economy and the cost of living.

The survey of 1,914 registered voters found that 33% approved of Trump’s performance as president. That marked a three-point decline from August and the lowest figure since the Financial Times began asking the question in May. Approval among Republican voters also fell by more than two points, to 72%, another record low in the FT’s polling.

Economic concerns dominated the results. Almost two-thirds of registered voters said the economy was moving in the wrong direction, while 57% said their financial situation had deteriorated during Trump’s presidency, up four points from the previous month. Among Republicans, 53% approved of Trump’s handling of jobs and the economy, nearly eight points lower than in August.

Voters also rejected Trump’s trade policy. Fifty-six percent opposed his latest decision to impose a 50% tariff on about $20 billion worth of Canadian goods, a move that prompted Canada to impose matching 50% tariffs on U.S. imports. More than 60% of independents and nearly one-third of Republicans opposed the decision.

Trump has placed himself at the center of the Republican campaign as the party seeks to retain control of the House of Representatives and Senate. The midterms are widely viewed as a referendum on the president’s performance, even though Trump’s name will not appear on the ballot. Forty-four percent of voters said Trump was making it harder for Republican congressional candidates to win, while 47% said supporting Trump would make them less likely to back a candidate. Democrats led Republicans by 7.5 percentage points when voters were asked which party they were likely to support, widening their advantage from five points in August.