Washington, DC – A new NBC News poll shows a significant drop in President Donald Trump’s approval rating, reaching its lowest point during his second term. This decline strengthens the Democratic Party’s position, as it gains ground in confidence indicators ahead of the November midterm elections.
According to a poll published on June 14, coinciding with Trump’s 80th birthday, the US president’s approval rating among American adults stood at just 39%. This comes roughly five months before the election, a pivotal political event that will determine the balance of power in Washington.
This represents Trump’s lowest approval rating in NBC polls since his first term. NBC recorded similar levels in July 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic and the racial tensions of that time.
Rural decline due to economic pressure
Meanwhile, Trump’s approval rating among Americans living in rural areas, his historical stronghold, hit a new low of 50% in June. This compares to 60% in February 2025, just one month after his return to the White House, according to a separate Reuters/Ipsos poll.
This sharp decline in his rural base, which secured his victories in 2016 and 2024, stems from growing voter dissatisfaction with his handling of the economy. It also coincides with rising living costs and soaring fuel and food prices, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Election challenges for Republicans
The results come at a time when Republicans hold slim majorities in both the House and Senate.
An NBC poll of 2,400 registered voters showed that 49% want Democrats to regain control of Congress, while 44% prefer Republicans to retain control, and 7% remain undecided.
Despite the decline in support, a majority of Republican voters remain loyal to Trump; 82% of them expressed satisfaction with his performance, compared to 88% last March. Meanwhile, 58% affirmed that they “strongly support” him.
Republican pollster Bill McIntorf, who conducted the survey with Democratic pollster Jeff Horowitz, commented, “These are tough numbers for Republicans, but they’re not catastrophic.”
Horowitz, however, emphasized that Democrats “remain very well positioned to win seats in Congress” despite structural challenges and redistricting.
