By As President Donald Trump prepares to deliver his State of the Union address on February 24, 2026, his Trump approval rating State of the Union 2026 tells a complicated story — strong in red states, deeply underwater nationwide. At TrendingUpdatesToday.com, we break down what the latest polls reveal and what they could mean heading into the 2026 midterms.
What Is Trump’s Current Approval Rating?
Multiple polls released just days before the State of the Union address 2026 show Trump’s job approval rating sitting at roughly 36% among all U.S. adults, with disapproval hovering around 60–62%.
A CNN/SSRS poll conducted February 17–20, 2026, found that just 32% of Americans say Trump has had the right priorities, while 68% say he hasn’t paid enough attention to the country’s most important problems. SSRS The same poll showed that Americans say, 61% to 38%, that Trump’s policies will move the country in the wrong direction rather than the right one. SSRS
An AP-NORC survey from early February echoed this: Trump’s approval stood at 36% and disapproval at 62%, a net minus 26 that matched his November low with the same pollster. Newsweek
Trump Approval Rating Among Independents Hits New Low
One of the most significant warning signs for the White House is the collapse of support among political independents. Trump approval rating among independents has reached a new low in CNN polling ahead of the speech.
This matters enormously for the 2026 midterms. Independents are the swing voters who decide competitive races, and losing them by wide margins signals real electoral danger for Republicans.
Trump’s Approval Rating: Issue by Issue
Not all issues are equally damaging. Here’s how Trump’s net approval breaks down on key topics:
| Issue | Net Approval Rating |
| Immigration / Border | -3 points |
| Economy (overall) | -16 points |
| Tariffs | -30 points |
| Inflation | -32 points |
Trump was rated lowest on inflation, where he had a net approval of -32 percentage points. His tariffs policies were nearly as unpopular, at -30 points. His handling of the U.S.-Mexico border garnered the most positive ratings at just -3 points. Newsweek
The border remains his strongest issue, while inflation and tariffs are dragging his Trump poll numbers 2026 lower.
Trump Approval Rating by State: Who Still Supports Him?
While his national Trump approval rating State of the Union 2026 is deeply negative, the picture varies sharply by state.
Across much of the Deep South and parts of the Mountain West, Trump continues to post majority approval or near-majority support. West Virginia leads with 58% approving, giving a net approval of +23 points. Newsweek
Oklahoma (57%), Wyoming (57%), North Dakota (56%), Arkansas (54%), Alabama (53%), Idaho (53%), Montana (53%), South Dakota (53%), and Tennessee (52%) remain firmly in Trump’s corner. Newsweek
Tennessee, specifically, shows a positive Trump approval by state — a net of about +5 points. That’s one of only seven states where his net approval is in positive territory.
His net approval rating is negative in all states except Idaho (+28.0%), North Dakota (+9.7%), Tennessee (+5.1%), Montana (+3.8%), Alabama (+3.0%), Oklahoma (+3.0%), and Arkansas (+2.4%). The Mirror
What is Trump’s approval rating in Tennessee 2026? Civiqs data puts it at 52% approving — solid but tighter than his 2024 election margin there.
What Do Americans Think Heading Into the State of the Union?
The State of the Union address 2026 arrives at a difficult moment for the president. Most Americans question whether his policies are working, and his Trump job approval CNN poll numbers show little improvement since early in his term.
The White House has pushed back. Spokesperson Davis Ingle stated that Trump “was overwhelmingly elected by nearly 80 million Americans to deliver on his popular and common-sense agenda.” Trump himself claimed on Truth Social to have received his “highest poll numbers ever.”
The data, however, does not support that framing. How do Americans feel about Trump before the State of the Union? The answer, for most, is concern — particularly on the economy and cost of living.
Conclusion
The Trump approval rating State of the Union 2026 paints a clear picture: deep loyalty in conservative states, a collapsing coalition among independents, and broad national Trump disapproval rating on economic issues. Whether the speech moves the needle remains to be seen. For continued coverage of the 2026 political landscape, follow TrendingUpdatesToday.com.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Trump’s approval rating ahead of the State of the Union 2026? Trump’s approval rating stands at approximately 36% nationally, according to multiple polls including CNN/SSRS and AP-NORC conducted in February 2026.
2. Why has Trump’s approval rating among independents hit a new low? Concerns over inflation, tariffs, and a perception that Trump’s policies are moving the country in the wrong direction have driven his Trump approval rating among independents to record lows in CNN polling.
3. What are Trump’s poll numbers 2026 on the economy? Trump poll numbers 2026 show a net approval of -16 points on the economy overall, with inflation at -32 and tariffs at -30, making these his weakest issues.
4. What is Trump’s net approval rating by state in 2026? Trump’s net approval rating by state 2026 is positive in only seven states — Idaho, North Dakota, Tennessee, Montana, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. It is negative in the other 43 states.
5. How does the State of the Union address 2026 factor into Trump’s political future? The State of the Union address 2026 is a major opportunity for Trump to reset public perception, but he faces a skeptical national audience heading into a critical midterm election year.
📚 Sources
- CNN / SSRS Poll, February 17–20, 2026 — ssrs.com
- Newsweek — Trump’s Approval Rating Hits New Low — newsweek.com
- Newsweek / Civiqs — Map Shows Trump Approval Rating in Every State — newsweek.com
- The Mirror US — State-by-State Polling Shows Donald Trump Ahead of State of the Union — themirror.com
- Washington Post — 6 in 10 Disapprove of Trump Ahead of State of the Union — washingtonpost.com