Quick Answer: A new NBC News Decision Desk poll released Sunday, October 18, 2026, puts the donald trump approval rating at 34% among adults, with 71% saying the country is on the “wrong track.” Democrats lead the generic ballot 2026 survey 55% to 45% ahead of the November midterm elections.
Key Takeaways
- Trump’s approval stands at 34% with 66% disapproving; 51% “strongly disapprove” — a second-term high.
- 71% of Americans say the country is on the wrong track, another second-term high.
- 58% say Trump’s policies are hurting the country; 28% say they are helping.
- Democrats lead the generic ballot 2026 55% to 45%; the economy (31%), threats to democracy (22%) and healthcare (13%) top voters’ concerns.
Americans are anxious, pessimistic and deeply unhappy with President Donald Trump as the midterm elections approach, according to a new NBC News Decision Desk poll released Sunday. The trump 34 percent approval rating lands 16 days before voters decide control of Congress.
What the NBC News poll found
The poll puts Trump’s approval rating at 34% among adults, with 66% disapproving — a net negative poll margin of 32 points. Fifty-one percent said they “strongly disapprove” of the president’s performance, the highest share of his second term. On the country’s direction, 71% said the United States is on the wrong track, also a second-term high. And 58% said Trump’s policies are hurting the country, while 28% said they are helping.
President Donald Trump. (Photo: Daniel Torok / White House, public domain)
Democrats lead the generic congressional ballot
Democrats led Republicans 55% to 45% on the generic congressional ballot, NBC News’ Sahil Kapur reported. But the democrat approval rating remains underwater as well — analysts say voters are motivated more by opposition to Trump than enthusiasm for Democrats. Separately, a Post-ABC-Ipsos poll of 2,545 U.S. adults (October 9–13, margin of error ±2 points) told a similar story, according to Raw Story.
The issues driving the midterms
The economy remains the dominant concern: 31% named it their top issue, followed by threats to democracy (22%) and healthcare (13%). With early voting already underway in several states, the White House continues to face political headwinds before Election Day.
Voting booths at a polling station in Washington, D.C. (Photo: OSCE PA, CC BY-SA 2.0)
FAQs
Is Trump’s approval rating going down?
The new NBC News Decision Desk poll released October 18, 2026, puts the donald trump approval rating at 34% among adults, with 66% disapproving — the worst reading of his second term in this series.
What does “wrong track” mean in polls?
“Wrong track” asks whether people think the country is headed in the right direction or the wrong one. In the new NBC poll, 71% of Americans said the wrong track — a second-term high.
Who is winning the midterm elections 2026, according to polls?
The NBC Decision Desk poll gives Democrats a 55% to 45% lead on the generic congressional ballot. A separate Post-ABC-Ipsos poll also released Sunday points to a difficult environment for Republicans — though 16 days out, polls are a snapshot, not a forecast.
What are midterm elections, and when are the 2026 ones?
Midterms are the US congressional elections held midway through a presidential term — all 435 House seats and a third of Senate seats are decided. The 2026 midterms take place this November.
What happens if a president loses midterm elections?
When a president’s party loses the midterms, the opposition typically takes the House, the Senate, or both — gaining power to block legislation and launch investigations. Midterms historically go badly for the president’s party.
Sources: NBC News; Barron’s; Raw Story (18 October 2026).
