32%, 24%, 52%, 86%: Why These 4 Numbers Are Bad News for Trump Ahead of Midterms | Today’s news
Four numbers from a new Reuters/Ipsos poll point to the growing political challenges facing President Donald Trump and his Republican Party less than a month before the US midterm elections.
Trump’s overall approval rating remains at record lows, his support among Hispanic Americans has plummeted, Democrats hold a significant advantage among Hispanic voters, and an overwhelming majority of Americans oppose the president’s election-related television ads funded by taxpayers.
Here’s what the four numbers reveal.
32%: Trump’s approval rating remains at record low
Only 32% of Americans approve of Trump’s performance as president, according to a six-day Reuters/Ipsos poll completed Monday.
That figure was unchanged from a Reuters/Ipsos poll in September that recorded the lowest ratings of Trump’s political career.
The poor approval rating comes at a crucial time for Republicans, with the Nov. 3 midterm elections determining control of both houses of Congress for the final two years of Trump’s current term.
The survey also showed that the cost of living was a top issue for voters deciding how to cast their ballot. Consumer inflation rose after gasoline and diesel prices surged in the wake of the war with Iran that Trump launched in February.
Republicans are also losing some of their traditional advantage among older voters. Among Americans age 50 and older, Republicans led Democrats by just 44% to 42%, compared to an eight-point lead for Republicans in December.
Democrats held an 18-point lead among voters under 50.
24%: Trump’s Hispanic support has dropped to an all-time low
Trump’s declining support among Hispanic Americans could be particularly significant for Republicans.
Only 24% of Hispanics approve of Trump’s job performance, the lowest level seen during either of his two terms as president.
That marks a significant turnaround from the 2024 presidential election, when Trump won nearly half of the Hispanic vote, compared to roughly one-third in 2020.
Reuters/Ipsos findings suggest that some of those gains may be at risk ahead of the medium term, as inflation and the cost of living weigh on voters.
52%: Hispanic voters favor Democrats
The warning for Republicans is even clearer when looking at voting intentions.
Among Hispanic registered voters, 52% said they planned to vote for Democratic candidates, compared to just 26% who planned to vote Republican.
The 26-point lead for Democrats is the largest since Trump took office, according to the poll.
Hispanic voters are an important constituency for both parties, and the shift could have ramifications in competitive congresses across the country.
Overall, registered voters preferred Democratic candidates 44% to 37%.
Among independents, Democrats led Republicans 37% to 21%, although 28% of independent registered voters remained undecided.
The findings come as Republicans prepare for a tough election. Analysts are increasingly predicting that Democrats could gain control of the House, while the Senate is also becoming more competitive.
86%: Voters reject Trump’s taxpayer-funded ads
Number four presents another challenge for Trump: 86% of Americans say it’s inappropriate to use taxpayer money for election-related television ads featuring the president or members of his cabinet.
That figure includes four out of five Republicans, suggesting opposition to the spending extends beyond Trump’s political opponents.
The finding comes after three nationally aired ads featuring Trump drew criticism from lawmakers and ethics experts from both parties.
The ads promote themes including “the golden age of America” and the “final battle” against the “deep state.” One features Trump saying, “America will never be a communist country,” while another combines images of Mount Rushmore with footage of Trump praising “America’s golden age.”
Each ad carries a disclaimer that it was paid for by the US government.
Trump and his aides have defended the ads as educational and patriotic rather than political.
Trump also said he would either pay for the ads himself or use money raised by his MAGA political committee.
Another warning: 71% oppose changing the name of the Kennedy Center
The poll also found opposition to another Trump initiative.
About 71% of respondents opposed renaming the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to include Trump’s name. Only 25% of Republicans supported the proposal.
With Trump’s approval rating stuck at 32%, only 24% of Hispanic Americans approving of his performance, Hispanic voters favoring Democrats 52-26% and 86% disapproving of Trump’s taxpayer-funded ads, the poll offers several red flags for Republicans heading into the November midterms.
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