Trump hits record low in approval ratings amid shutdown and Epstein backlash

WASHINGTON, DC: President Trump’s approval rating has fallen to its lowest point since last elections, according to a recent national survey. 

The four-day poll carried out by 'Reuters/Ipsos' concluded on Monday, November 17 comes as Trump's grip on his Republican Party shows signs of weakening.

The drop reflects growing discontent across multiple demographic groups and indicates a challenging period ahead for his administration.

Donald Trump's approval rating falls

Trump’s approval rating dropped to 38%, marking the lowest point since he returned to office, as Americans expressed dissatisfaction with his handling of rising living costs and the ongoing investigation into the late convicted offender Jeffrey Epstein.

On Tuesday, the Republican led House of Representatives approved a measure requiring the Justice Department to release files related to Epstein.

Trump had resisted this action for months, even as one of his closest allies in Congress, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, became a vocal critic of his opposition.

He ultimately changed his stance on Sunday, just as lawmakers prepared to proceed without his support.

The poll found that only 39% of respondents approve of Trump’s performance, while 58% disapprove, marking a sharp drop in his approval since being re-elected.

The survey also found that only 43% of Republican identifying respondents say they approve of Trump’s presidency a notable decline from the 81% who said so earlier in his term.

Additionally, among independents only 25% approve of the president’s performance, down from 38% in the earlier poll. 

These figures suggest not simply a drop among opposition voters but weakening support within his own base and among undecided or swing voters.

The poll was conducted between November 6 and 10, 2025, after off‐year election results and amid a continuing federal government shutdown.

Donald Trump faces growing public frustration

The decline in approval comes at a moment when many Americans are critical of how Trump is managing government operations and handling key policy issues. 

The survey showed that only 33% of US adults approve of how he is managing the federal government, down from 43% in March of this year.

Trump began his second term with 47% of Americans approving of his performance. Since January, his support has dropped nine points, bringing his overall popularity near the lows of his first term and close to the weakest ratings seen for his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden.

Joe Biden speaks after meeting with North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, and Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall on the ongoing response to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in the Oval Office of the White House on September 30, 2024 in Washington, DC (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

During Biden’s presidency, his approval dipped to 35%, while Trump’s first-term ratings fell to as low as 33%.

Observers note that the prolonged government shutdown, operational disruptions like air traffic control and food‐aid delays, and broader governance concerns are contributing to growing frustration.

The poll suggests that the president’s challenges extend beyond partisan divides to questions of management, accountability and public trust in his second term.