TL/DR –
The Economist/YouGov poll reveals that President Trump’s approval rating has reached new lows, with 56% of U.S. adult citizens expressing disapproval of his job performance. The poll also shows that Democrats are leading in congressional voting intention among both registered and unregistered voters, and there’s growing support for military aid to Ukraine. Lastly, most Americans disapprove of how Trump is handling jobs and the economy, and they do not favor the federal government controlling universities.
Overview
Economist/YouGov poll highlights:
- Record low Trump approval ratings
- Democratic lead in congressional voting preference
- Dwindling support for Israel taking over Gaza
- Rising favor for military aid to Ukraine
- Low public preference for federal influence over universities
Record Low Trump Approval
- Only 40% of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s performance, with 56% disapproving. The -16 net approval rating is among the lowest in his second term.
- Trump’s record-low approval extends to his handling of jobs and the economy, with disapproval at 53% and approval at 39%.
2026 Election Forecast
- Democrats hold a 5-point lead over Republicans among registered voters. Among unregistered voters, Democrats lead by 12 points.
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
- Americans’ support is nearly even for Israelis (30%) and Palestinians (26%) in their ongoing conflict. The slight lead for Israelis is the smallest it’s been since 2017.
- 43% of Americans accuse Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians, up from 32% in 2024.
- Less than a third of Americans (28%) support Israel extending military control over Gaza.
The Russia-Ukraine War
- A slight majority of Americans (32%) favor increasing U.S. military aid to Ukraine.
- 68% of Americans hope for an end to the conflict with no Russian control over Ukrainian territory, but only 11% see this as a likely outcome.
- 41% of Americans approve of Trump’s recent meeting with Putin to discuss the war, while 38% disapprove.
Universities
- 57% of Americans disapprove of the Trump administration’s demand for universities to pay large fines.
- Most Americans believe that hiring, research topics, curricula, speech policies, student organization rules, and admission criteria should not be controlled by the federal government.
— Carl Bialik contributed to this article. See the toplines and crosstabs for the August 15 – 18, 2025 Economist/YouGov Poll.
Methodology: The poll was conducted among 1,568 U.S. adult citizens. The margin of error is approximately 3.5%.
Image: Getty (Andrew Harnik / Staff)
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