President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 38%, according to a new national poll released August 4 by the University of Massachusetts Amherst, marking one of his lowest ratings in recent months and indicating a notable decline in support among men and political independents.
The poll, conducted in partnership with YouGov between July 25 and 30, surveyed 1,000 Americans and carries a margin of error of 3.5%. It shows a 6-point drop in Trump’s approval since April, when he stood at 44%. Disapproval now stands at 58%, bringing his net approval rating to -20.
Key Findings:
- Men’s Support Declines Sharply: In April, 48% of men approved of Trump’s performance. That number fell to 39% in July — just one point above the national average.
- Support Among Women Falls Too: Approval among women dropped from 39% to 35% over the same period.
- Independents Turn Away: Approval among political independents declined dramatically from 31% in April to 21% in July.
Dr. Jesse Rhodes, political science professor and co-director of the poll, noted, “In addition to losing support among men, Trump has seen approval for his presidency crumble among political independents, a critical swing constituency.”
Broad Disapproval Across Demographics
Tatishe Nteta, director of the UMass Amherst poll, emphasized the breadth of discontent:
“While Trump remains a popular figure among Republicans and conservatives, his time in office is viewed more negatively across genders, generations, classes, and races.”
According to the poll, the president’s performance received consistently low marks on several policy areas:
- Inflation and Tariffs: 31% approval.
- Civil Rights: 32% approval.
- Immigration: Approval dropped 9 points since April.
Epstein Scandal Lingers in Public Perception
The poll also shows that the ongoing controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein continues to damage Trump’s public standing:
- 70% of respondents believe Trump is handling the issue either “not too well” or “not well at all.”
- 63% think his administration is hiding information related to the Epstein case.
More than 75% of respondents said they had “read, seen, or heard about Jeffrey Epstein” either “some” or “a lot.”
Context and Comparisons
The UMass Amherst results are lower than aggregated national averages:
- The New York Times average: ~44% approval, 53% disapproval.
- RealClearPolitics average: ~45.8% approval, 51.4% disapproval (as of August 6).
Gallup’s historical data shows that Trump’s approval ratings in July of both his terms are the lowest of any modern U.S. president. A Gallup poll on July 25 reported his approval at 37%, and a Reuters/Ipsos poll released July 30 placed it at 40%.
With disapproval mounting across key demographics and swing voters, the president’s slipping approval ratings present a challenge for the GOP as it looks ahead to the 2026 midterms.
