|
Our national monthly survey on presidential performance and the
economy has lost subscribers over concerns that any unfavorable results
may upset the current administration. We need your support to
continue providing unbiased insights. Please join us in continuing this
monthly survey.
August 20, 2026
Trump Overall Job Disapproval at 66%
Trump Disapproval on Handling the Economy at 69%
A total of 30% of Americans say they approve of
the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president and 66% say they
disapprove of the way Trump is handling his job according to the latest
survey from the American Research Group. In July, 30% of Americans
approved of the way Trump was handling his job and 67% disapproved.
In August 2018, 36% approved of
the way Trump was handling his job as president and 59%
disapproved.
When it comes to Trump's handling of the economy, 28% of Americans approve
and 69% disapprove. In July, 28% of Americans approved of the way Trump was handling the economy and 70% disapproved.
In August 2018, 40% approved of the way Trump
was
handling the economy and 55% disapproved. Among Americans registered to vote, 31% approve
of the way Trump is handling his job as president and 66% disapprove.
On Trump's handling of the economy, 28% of registered voters approve
and 69% disapprove. Of
the 30% of Americans saying they approve of the
way Trump is handling
his job as president in the current survey, 14% say they expect the
national economy will be
better a year from now, 24% say the national economy will be the same,
and 52% say they expect the national economy
will be worse a year from now. In February 2025 among the 43% then
saying they approved of the way Trump was handling his job, 46% said
they expected the national economy to be better in a year, 11% said
they expected the national economy to be the same in a year, and 30%
said they expected the national economy to be worse in a year. Of
the 66% saying they
disapprove of the way
Trump his handling his job as president in the current survey, 79% say they expect the
national economy will be worse a year from now.
Of the 30% of Americans saying they approve of the
way Trump
is
handling his job as president in the current survey, 14% say they
expect the financial situations in their
households will be better a year from now, 33% say they expect the
financial situations in their households will be the same a year from
now, 45% say they expect the financial situations in their
households will be worse a year from now, and 8% are undecided. In
February 2025 among the 43% then saying they approved of the way Trump
was
handling his job, 43% said they expected the financial situations in
their households would be better in a year, 39% said they expected
the financial situations in their households would be the
same in a year, and 11% said they expected the financial situations in their households would be
worse in a year.
Of
the 66% saying they disapprove of the way Trump his handling his job as
president in the current survey, 3% say they
expect the financial situations in their
households will be better a year from now, 14% say they expect the
financial situations in their households will be the same a year from
now, and 77% say they expect the financial situations in their
households will be worse a year from now. The results presented here are based on 1,100
completed interviews conducted among a nationwide random sample of
adults August 15 through 19,
2026.
The theoretical margin of error for the total sample is plus or minus
3 percentage points, 95% of the time, on questions where opinion is
evenly split.
Overall, 30% of Americans say that they approve of
the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president, 66% disapprove,
and 4% are undecided.
Trump
job
approval |
Approve |
Disapprove |
Undecided |
|
| Aug 2026 |
30% |
66% |
4% |
| Jul 2026 |
30% |
67% |
3% |
| Jun 2026 |
30% |
66% |
4% |
| May 2026 |
31% |
64% |
5% |
| Apr 2026 |
32% |
63% |
5% |
| Mar 2026 |
34% |
63% |
3% |
| Feb 2026 |
36% |
62% |
2% |
| Jan 2026 |
35% |
63% |
2% |
| Dec 2025 |
35% |
62% |
3% |
| Nov 2025 |
35% |
62% |
3% |
| Oct 2025 |
37% |
60% |
3% |
| Sep 2025 |
37% |
58% |
5% |
| Aug 2025 |
38% |
59% |
3% |
Among Republicans (31% of adults registered to
vote in the survey and 29% of all adults in the survey), 69% approve of
the way Trump is handling his job and 29% disapprove. Among Democrats
(33% of adults registered to vote in the survey and 30% of all adults
in the survey), 1% approve and 98% disapprove of the way Trump is
handling his job. Among independents (36% of adults registered to vote
in the survey and 33% of all adults in the survey), 25% approve and 69%
disapprove of the way Trump is handling his job as president.
Overall, 28% of Americans say that they approve of
the way Donald Trump is handling the economy, 69% disapprove, and 3%
are undecided. Among registered voters, 28% approve and 69% disapprove
of the way Trump is handling the economy.
| Trump handling
the economy |
Approve |
Disapprove |
Undecided |
|
| Aug 2026 |
28% |
69% |
3% |
| Jul 2026 |
28% |
70% |
2% |
| Jun 2026 |
26% |
70% |
4% |
| May 2026 |
29% |
67% |
4% |
| Apr 2026 |
31% |
65% |
4% |
| Mar 2026 |
33% |
64% |
3% |
| Feb 2026 |
35% |
62% |
3% |
| Jan 2026 |
32% |
64% |
4% |
| Dec 2025 |
33% |
64% |
3% |
| Nov 2025 |
32% |
64% |
4% |
| Oct 2025 |
34% |
63% |
3% |
| Sep 2025 |
34% |
63% |
3% |
| Aug 2025 |
34% |
63% |
3% |
Among Republicans, 64% approve of the way Trump is
handling the economy and 33% disapprove. Among Democrats, 1% approve
of the way Trump is handling the economy and 98% disapprove. Among
independents, 22% approve and 74% disapprove of the way Trump is
handling the economy.
A total of 6% of Americans say that the national
economy is getting
better, 18% say it is staying the same, and 71% say the national
economy is getting worse.
|
National economy
|
Getting better
|
Staying the
same
|
Getting worse
|
Undecided
|
|
| Aug 2026 |
6% |
18% |
71% |
5% |
| Jul 2026 |
7% |
16% |
71% |
6% |
| Jun 2026 |
6% |
16% |
73% |
5% |
| May 2026 |
8% |
17% |
70% |
5% |
| Apr 2026 |
9% |
18% |
67% |
6% |
| Mar 2026 |
10% |
20% |
64% |
6% |
| Feb 2026 |
9% |
20% |
69% |
2% |
| Jan 2026 |
8% |
19% |
68% |
5% |
| Dec 2025 |
8% |
17% |
71% |
4% |
| Nov 2025 |
8% |
16% |
72% |
4% |
| Oct 2025 |
10% |
15% |
69% |
6% |
| Sep 2025 |
10% |
20% |
65% |
5% |
| Aug 2025 |
11% |
21% |
64% |
4% |
| Jul 2025 |
11% |
20% |
64% |
5% |
Among those saying they approve of the way Trump
is handling his job, 12% say getting better, 34% say staying the same,
and 50% say getting worse. Of those saying they disapprove of
the way Trump is handling his job, 3% say getting
better, 10%
say staying the same, and 81% say getting worse.
A total of 8% of Americans say they believe the
national economy will be better a year from now, 15% say it will be the
same, and 71% say it will be worse.
|
National economy a year from now
|
Better than
today
|
The same as
today
|
Worse than
today
|
Undecided
|
|
| Aug 2026 |
8% |
15% |
71% |
6% |
| Jul 2026 |
8% |
14% |
73% |
5% |
| Jun 2026 |
7% |
12% |
75% |
6% |
| May 2026 |
9% |
15% |
69% |
7% |
| Apr 2026 |
10% |
15% |
67% |
8% |
| Mar 2026 |
10% |
14% |
70% |
6% |
| Feb 2026 |
12% |
18% |
65% |
5% |
| Jan 2026 |
10% |
14% |
69% |
7% |
| Dec 2025 |
11% |
15% |
66% |
8% |
| Nov 2025 |
11% |
17% |
66% |
6% |
| Oct 2025 |
12% |
17% |
63% |
8% |
| Sep 2025 |
14% |
18% |
61% |
7% |
| Aug 2025 |
16% |
17% |
61% |
6% |
Among those saying they approve of the way Trump
is handling
his job, 14% say better, 24% say the same as today, 52% say
worse
than today, and 10% are undecided. Among those saying they disapprove
of
the way Trump is
handling his job as president, 5% say better, 11%
say the
same, and 79%
say worse.
Overall, 66% of Americans say they believe that
the national economy is in a recession, 18% say they do not believe the
economy is in a recession, and 16% are undecided.
| National
economy in a recession |
Yes
|
No
|
Undecided
|
|
| Aug 2026 |
66% |
18% |
16% |
| Jul 2026 |
66% |
19% |
15% |
| Jun 2026 |
65% |
19% |
16% |
| May 2026 |
60% |
22% |
18% |
| Apr 2026 |
60% |
22% |
18% |
| Mar 2026 |
62% |
24% |
14% |
| Feb 2026 |
58% |
27% |
15% |
| Jan 2026 |
61% |
27% |
12% |
| Dec 2025 |
58% |
28% |
14% |
| Nov 2025 |
56% |
27% |
17% |
| Oct 2025 |
56% |
29% |
15% |
| Sep 2025 |
54% |
30% |
16% |
| Aug 2025 |
52% |
32% |
16% |
Among those saying they approve of the way Trump
is handling his job, 45% say the national economy is in a
recession, 31%
say the national economy is not in a recession, and 24% are undecided.
Of those saying they disapprove of the way Trump is handling his job,
76% say the national economy is in a recession, 12% say the
national
economy is not in a recession, and 12% are undecided.
A total of 12% of Americans rate the national
economy as excellent, very good, or good and 81% rate it as bad, very
bad, or terrible.
|
National economy
|
Excellent
|
Very good
|
Good
|
Bad
|
Very bad
|
Terrible
|
Undecided
|
|
| Aug 2026 |
5% |
2% |
5% |
13% |
5% |
63% |
7% |
| Jul 2026 |
4% |
3% |
6% |
15% |
7% |
59% |
6% |
| Jun 2026 |
3% |
3% |
4% |
17% |
8% |
57% |
8% |
| May 2026 |
4% |
4% |
6% |
17% |
10% |
52% |
5% |
| Apr 2026 |
5% |
6% |
6% |
21% |
8% |
50% |
4% |
| Mar 2026 |
4% |
7% |
6% |
23% |
6% |
49% |
5% |
| Feb 2026 |
3% |
5% |
7% |
29% |
3% |
48% |
5% |
| Jan 2026 |
3% |
5% |
7% |
30% |
3% |
47% |
5% |
| Dec 2025 |
1% |
4% |
6% |
34% |
2% |
48% |
5% |
| Nov 2025 |
2% |
4% |
6% |
38% |
3% |
43% |
4% |
| Oct 2025 |
2% |
5% |
7% |
35% |
4% |
43% |
4% |
| Sep 2025 |
2% |
6% |
9% |
40% |
5% |
34% |
4% |
| Aug 2025 |
2% |
7% |
10% |
42% |
4% |
30% |
5% |
Among those saying they approve of the way Trump
is handling his job, 21% say very good, or good and 74% say
bad, very
bad, or terrible. Among those saying they disapprove of the way Trump
is handling his job, 8% say very good, or good and 87% say
bad, very
bad, or terrible.
When it comes to rating their household financial
situations, 23% of Americans give an excellent, very good, or good
rating and 70% give a bad, very bad, or terrible rating.
|
Household financial situation
|
Excellent
|
Very good
|
Good
|
Bad
|
Very bad
|
Terrible
|
Undecided
|
|
| Aug 2026 |
10% |
3% |
10% |
9% |
6% |
55% |
8% |
| Jul 2026 |
9% |
3% |
13% |
11% |
4% |
52% |
8% |
| Jun 2026 |
8% |
4% |
12% |
12% |
5% |
52% |
7% |
| May 2026 |
9% |
4% |
17% |
12% |
7% |
42% |
9% |
| Apr 2026 |
9% |
4% |
19% |
14% |
9% |
37% |
8% |
| Mar 2026 |
6% |
6% |
23% |
15% |
7% |
34% |
9% |
| Feb 2026 |
8% |
5% |
24% |
17% |
3% |
37% |
6% |
| Jan 2026 |
8% |
5% |
21% |
22% |
3% |
35% |
6% |
| Dec 2025 |
6% |
5% |
23% |
19% |
3% |
38% |
6% |
| Nov 2025 |
7% |
5% |
23% |
19% |
2% |
38% |
6% |
| Oct 2025 |
7% |
7% |
24% |
22% |
3% |
32% |
5% |
| Sep 2025 |
5% |
9% |
27% |
21% |
4% |
30% |
4% |
| Aug 2025 |
6% |
10% |
29% |
21% |
3% |
28% |
3% |
Among those saying they approve of the way Trump
is handling his job, 36% say excellent, very good, or good and 54% say
bad, very bad, or terrible. Among those saying they disapprove of the
way Trump is handling his job, 17% say very good, or good
and 76% say bad, very bad, or terrible.
A total of 3% of Americans say they think the financial situations
in their households are getting better, 19% say staying the same, and 72% say getting worse.
|
Household financial situation
|
Getting better
|
Staying the
same
|
Getting worse
|
Undecided
|
|
| Aug 2026 |
3% |
19% |
72% |
6% |
| Jul 2026 |
4% |
19% |
72% |
5% |
| Jun 2026 |
3% |
18% |
73% |
6% |
| May 2026 |
4% |
23% |
66% |
7% |
| Apr 2026 |
5% |
25% |
63% |
7% |
| Mar 2026 |
7% |
24% |
62% |
7% |
| Feb 2026 |
7% |
26% |
62% |
5% |
| Jan 2026 |
6% |
23% |
68% |
3% |
| Dec 2025 |
7% |
23% |
65% |
5% |
| Nov 2025 |
4% |
21% |
68% |
7% |
| Oct 2025 |
4% |
25% |
66% |
5% |
| Sep 2025 |
5% |
30% |
60% |
5% |
| Aug 2025 |
6% |
33% |
56% |
5% |
Among those saying they approve of the way Trump
is handling his job, 4% say getting better, 39% say staying the same,
and 50% say getting worse. Among those saying they disapprove
of the way Trump is handling his job, 3% say getting
better, 9% say staying the same, and 82% say getting worse.
Looking to a year from now, 7% of Americans say
that they think their household financial situations will be better
than today, 19% say the same as today, and 67% say worse than
today.
|
Household financial situation a
year from now
|
Better than
today
|
The same as
today
|
Worse than
today
|
Undecided
|
|
| Aug 2026 |
7% |
19% |
67% |
7% |
| Jul 2026 |
8% |
19% |
65% |
8% |
| Jun 2026 |
6% |
19% |
68% |
7% |
| May 2026 |
8% |
22% |
63% |
7% |
| Apr 2026 |
10% |
24% |
59% |
7% |
| Mar 2026 |
11% |
22% |
59% |
8% |
| Feb 2026 |
10% |
24% |
61% |
5% |
| Jan 2026 |
10% |
24% |
60% |
6% |
| Dec 2025 |
10% |
24% |
60% |
6% |
| Nov 2025 |
10% |
26% |
58% |
6% |
| Oct 2025 |
10% |
28% |
56% |
6% |
| Sep 2025 |
13% |
29% |
52% |
6% |
| Aug 2025 |
16% |
31% |
48% |
5% |
Among those saying they approve of the way Trump
is handling his job, 14% say better than today, 33% say the same as
today, and 45% say worse than today. Among those saying they
disapprove
of the way Trump is handling his job, 3% say better than today, 14%
say the same as today, and 77% say worse than today.
About this Survey -
Survey Sponsor: American Research Group, Inc.
The American Research Group has been conducting
national surveys of consumers since 1985.
Sample Size: 1,100 completed interviews among a
random sample of all adults age 18 and older living in households in
the continental United States (see methodology
for details). There were 315 Republicans, 327 Democrats, 360
independents, and 98 non-voters in the sample.
Sample Dates: August 15-19, 2026
Margin of Error: ± 3 percentage points, 95% of the
time, on questions where opinion is evenly split.
Question Wording and Order:
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald
Trump
is handling his job as president?
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald
Trump
is handling the economy?
How do you rate the condition of the national
economy these days - would you say it is excellent, very good, good,
bad, very bad, or terrible?
Do you think the national economy is getting
better, staying the same, or getting worse?
Would you say that the national economy is in a
recession, or not?
A year from now, do you expect the national
economy to be better than it is today, the same as it is today, or
worse than it is today?
How do you rate the condition of the financial
situation in your household - would you say it is excellent, very good,
good, bad, very bad, or terrible?
Do you think the financial situation in your
household is getting better, staying the same, or getting worse?
A year from now, do you expect the financial
situation in your household to be better than it is today, the same as
it is today, or worse than it is today?
|
