Trump's Approval Plunges to Record Low of 44% in Fox News Poll as Midterm Fears Mount
President Donald Trump's job approval rating has fallen to 44% in the latest Fox News poll , marking a significant decline just two months before the critical November midterm elections. The results, which show Trump underwater with 56% disapproving , come as voters express deep pessimism about the economy and the ongoing war with Iran, raising alarm bells within the Republican Party.
WASHINGTON – The viral image is straightforward: "65% VFOXNEWS POLL." It captures a poll result that has sent shockwaves through the political establishment—and triggered a furious response from the president himself.
The headline is based on real data from a Fox News poll, but the full story behind the numbers reveals a president facing a potential electoral disaster as voters turn against his handling of the economy, trade, and a prolonged war with Iran.
What the Fox News Poll Actually Shows
According to a Fox News poll conducted January 23-26, 2026, by Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), President Trump's job approval rating stands at 44%, with 56% disapproving .
This represents a significant drop from the president's second-term high of 49% recorded in March 2025, and a decline from the second-term low of 41% in November 2025 . The overall average approval across Trump's presidency now sits at 45% .
The poll surveyed 1,005 registered voters nationwide via live interviewers on landlines, cellphones, and online .
Trump Attacks Fox News Over Poll Results
The poll did not sit well with the president, who has a long history of attacking surveys that show him trailing.
According to multiple reports, Trump has "slammed" Fox News for publishing the results, questioning the network's loyalty and calling the poll "false" . The attack mirrors Trump's previous clashes with the network during the 2020 election campaign, when he accused Fox of using "fake pollsters" after a survey showed him trailing Joe Biden by eight points .
The president has demanded to know why Fox News did not publish more favorable polls from CNBC or CNN , reflecting his continued reliance on outlets that typically offer him friendly coverage.
A Broader Trend: 33% Approval in Latest Polls
Fox News's 44% figure is actually more favorable than some other recent surveys. A Financial Times/Focaldata poll conducted August 28 to September 1, 2026, found Trump's approval at just 33% —the lowest recorded since the newspaper began tracking in May 2026 .
Among Republican voters, support dropped to 72%—another record low . Only 53% of Republican voters approve of Trump's handling of jobs and the economy, a nearly eight-point decline from the previous month .
The key drivers of the collapse are clear:
| Metric | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Voters who say economy is headed in "wrong direction" | Nearly two-thirds |
| Voters who say their financial situation has worsened under Trump | 57% |
| Voters who oppose Trump's tariffs and trade policy | 56% |
The Economy and the Iran War: A Deadly Combination
The poll results come as the U.S.-Iran war—which began in late February 2026 with a U.S.-Israel joint offensive —enters its seventh month. What Trump initially envisioned as a short, decisive campaign has become a prolonged conflict that has disrupted global energy markets and driven up domestic costs .
Gas prices have soared to record levels, with diesel reaching a national average of $5.85 per gallon . The average price of gasoline reached $4.03 per gallon over Labor Day weekend—eclipsing the previous record of $3.83 set in 2012 .
The Financial Times poll found that voters directly link their economic pain to the conflict. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, 69% of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of the Iran situation, and 68% believe the war "has not been worth fighting" .
A Midterm Warning: Trump as a Political Liability
With the midterm elections just two months away—where Republicans are fighting to maintain control of both the House and Senate—the poll results have triggered deep anxiety within the GOP.
-
46% of voters believe Trump is "making it harder" for Republican congressional candidates to win
47% say they are "less likely" to support a candidate endorsed by Trump
Democrats now hold a 7.5% advantage in the generic congressional ballot
Trump, however, has placed himself at the center of the Republican campaign. The Republican National Committee plans to hold an unprecedented two-day conference in Dallas next week, chaired by Trump . But the polls suggest this strategy may backfire.
The Bottom Line
| What the graphic says | What actually happened |
|---|---|
| Trump's approval in Fox News poll is 44% | Yes—44% approve, 56% disapprove |
| The numbers are concerning for Republicans | Voters say Trump is a liability for GOP candidates |
| The poll was conducted recently | January 23-26, 2026—nearly eight months ago |
| More recent polls show even worse numbers | The FT/Focaldata poll shows 33% approval |
The viral image accurately captures the essence of a president in political trouble. The 44% approval rating in Fox News's own poll is a wake-up call—and the numbers have only worsened since.
As the November midterms approach, Trump finds himself fighting on two fronts: a war in Iran that is bleeding American wallets, and a battle for his own political relevance that even his allies at Fox News cannot fully insulate him from.
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