Economic Approval for Trump Drops to 26%
Voter approval of Trump's economic handling has fallen from 68 percent in 2018 to 26 percent now, ahead of the November 3 midterms.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Economic Indicators
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NBC News polling shows President Trump with a 40 percent approval and 60 percent disapproval rating as voters head into the November 3, 2026 midterm elections, where control of the House and Senate and 36 governorships are on the ballot.
Why it matters
Voter sentiment about the economy is a key driver of midterm outcomes, and NBC's data shows approval of Trump's handling of the economy has fallen from 68 percent in 2018 to 26 percent now. Polling of this kind shapes expectations for policy direction on taxes, prices, and spending that households feel directly.
NBC's current figures show 26 percent approve of Trump's handling of the economy, compared with 68 percent of voters surveyed in 2018. Record political ad spending of $11.6 billion has been tallied for the 2025-26 cycle as of October 30.
The players
NBC News
Broadcast network whose national polling and Meet the Press program supplied the approval and favorability figures in this story.
Steve Kornacki
NBC News chief data analyst who presented the polling comparisons between the current cycle and 2018.
The details
NBC chief data analyst Steve Kornacki compared current polling with figures from Trump's first midterm in 2018, when his net approval was negative but less negative than today. Polling shows Republicans with higher net approval than Democrats, while the Democratic Party stands at 29 percent favorable. Democrats are polling as likely to retake the House and Senate, and voters will also choose governors in 36 of the 50 states.
Timeline
2018: Trump's first midterm, when economic approval was 68 percent
October 30, 2026: record $11.6 billion in political ad spending tallied
November 2, 2026: Meet the Press polling data presented one day before Election Day
November 3, 2026: Midterm Election Day
Money Landscape
The drop in economic approval from 68 percent in 2018 to 26 percent now marks a sharp shift in how voters rate household financial conditions across two Trump midterms. Record political ad spending of $11.6 billion for the 2025-26 cycle signals how heavily both parties are investing to influence the outcome.
Households should note that election outcomes can shift tax, spending, and benefit policy, so the results may affect budgets in the months after November. Anyone planning major financial decisions tied to policy changes should review them with a qualified financial or tax professional once outcomes are known.
The takeaway
Voter confidence in the economy has fallen sharply since 2018, which is one of the clearest signals heading into the midterms. Track the November 3 results and any policy proposals that follow, and review how they could affect your budget with a qualified financial professional.
What happens next
Midterm Election Day is November 3, 2026, when voters will decide House, Senate, and governor races in 36 states.
Further reading
For more on how polling and sentiment readings track the economy, see Economic Indicators coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Independent.
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