President Donald Trump’s net approval rating has dropped to a low point for his second term. CNN senior data reporter Harry Enten shared on X that Trump is now at minus 18 points.
He noted that this decline is worse than Richard Nixon’s, which was minus 36 points during the Watergate scandal. Enten indicated that independent voters largely drive this slide, showing Trump at minus 45 with that group.
This new low adds to a series of tough polling results for Trump as he moves closer to 2026. Reuters reported last week that a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed Trump’s approval rating has reached its lowest level since he returned to office. This decline partly stems from the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and a spike in energy prices that brought gasoline close to $4 a gallon nationwide.
Other recent surveys reveal similar concerns. A Fox News poll conducted from March 20-23 found that 41% of registered voters approved of Trump’s job performance while 59% disapproved, a record high disapproval for this presidency. The same survey indicated weak support from independents, a group that has consistently shown trouble for Trump in recent polling.
A steady fall into the abyss for Trump’s net approval, as it falls into Death Valley. He’s now at a term 2 low: -18 pts.
Big reason why: Independents. Trump’s at -45 pts.
The worst for any prez at this point in term 2. Worse than Nixon (-36 pts) at the height of Watergate! pic.twitter.com/DLbtXDzrkP
— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) March 31, 2026
A Quinnipiac University poll also found Trump had a negative overall approval rating. According to that survey, 38% of voters approved of his performance while 59% disapproved. Additionally, 59% disapproved of his foreign policy, and independents had a strong negative view of both the Iran war and his leadership direction.
Enten’s comparison to Nixon is particularly striking since Watergate is seen as a major example of a presidency in crisis. In his post, Enten stated that Trump’s minus 18 net approval now represents “the worst for any prez at this point in term 2,” placing him below Nixon’s minus 36 during the peak of the scandal.
The polling struggles come as Trump deals with pressure on multiple fronts. These include foreign policy, rising energy prices, and economic confidence. Reuters noted that the war and the rise in fuel costs have hurt confidence in Trump’s management of the economy, which has always been key to his political appeal.
FOX NEWS POLL: President Trump’s approval rating dipped to 41% in March, and 59% of registered voters now disapprove of him — the highest disapproval of either of his terms.
Republican approval fell to a second-term low of 84%, down from 92% last March.
Among Democrats, 95%… pic.twitter.com/PXt9KT7e7f
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 25, 2026
Earlier this year, AP reported that Trump’s handling of the economy and immigration, two issues that helped him return to office, had seen a significant decline in public support.
These numbers could have serious consequences for Republicans leading into the midterms. Enten has cautioned that Trump’s falling approval is not just a White House problem but could harm the wider GOP coalition, especially if independents continue to distance themselves from the president. Daily Beast analysis of Enten’s recent review stated there was “no sign of a bottom” in Trump’s support among independents.
Trump still enjoys strong backing from core MAGA voters and conservative activists. However, the broader electorate seems to be moving in the opposite direction, with several polls indicating he is at or near the weakest point of his second term.
