A recent national survey conducted by Marquette Law School from May 20-26, 2026, indicates that President Donald Trump's overall approval rating has declined to 38%. His approval rating for handling the economy is at 30%, while only 22% approve of his management of inflation and the cost of living. The survey reveals that 95% of respondents acknowledge rising gas prices, with just 19% approving of Trump's handling of this issue. Additionally, only 18% believe the U.S. has achieved its goals in Iran, and 28% think the war has been worth the cost.
Despite these declining approval ratings, Trump maintains significant influence among Republican primary voters. The survey found that 71% of Republicans would support a primary candidate endorsed by Trump, compared to 20% who would vote for an incumbent Republican opposed by him. Among Republicans who support the MAGA movement, 87% would vote for a Trump-endorsed candidate, while only 9% would support an incumbent he opposes. In contrast, 30% of non-MAGA Republicans would vote for a Trump-supported candidate, and 48% would choose the incumbent.
Trump's job approval among Republicans who favor MAGA stands at 93%, while it drops to 36% among those who do not. The survey included 1,001 adults nationwide, with various sample sizes for different demographics, and has a margin of error of +/-3.4 percentage points overall. Attention to recent GOP primaries featuring Trump-endorsed candidates was relatively low, with only 29% of respondents reporting they had heard a lot about these events.
The survey also tracked Trump's approval ratings over time, showing a steady decline from a net approval of -4 percentage points in February 2025 to -24 percentage points in May 2026. His approval ratings on specific issues, such as border security and immigration, remain negative, with the lowest approval recorded for handling gasoline prices at 19%.
