THE APEX TIMES
Fox News poll shows President Donald Trump’s approval at 36 percent, record low for either term
A Fox News survey released during the final stretch of the 2026 calendar year found 36 percent of respondents approve of President Donald Trump’s overall handling of the presidency and 64 percent disapprove.
A Fox News poll released this week found President Donald Trump’s overall approval rating at 36 percent, with 64 percent of respondents disapproving of his handling of the presidency, a result Fox News described as a record low for either of his terms. The survey also reports that dissatisfaction among voters has continued to build as respondents evaluate Trump’s performance on major policy areas.
The poll’s headline number, 36 percent approval and 64 percent disapproval, marks a downturn from prior measures reported by Fox News during earlier points in the administration’s term. Fox News characterized the new finding as the lowest approval level recorded in the polling history covering either of Trump’s presidential terms, according to The Hill’s reporting on the survey results.
The Hill reported that Fox News’ new polling results arrive amid what the report describes as growing voter dissatisfaction with Trump’s handling of key issues. In Fox News’ presentation of the poll data, the approval-disapproval split provides a broad measure of public sentiment about the president’s overall job performance rather than a single policy outcome.
Fox News’ polling methodology and question wording are central to interpreting the numbers, since approval ratings can move based on respondent composition and the specific framing of “overall handling.” Still, the approval level reported by Fox News offers a snapshot of national views at a moment when public assessments of administrations often become a key reference point for lawmakers, media coverage, and public debate.
Separate from the political messaging around polls, the results can have practical effects on Washington-level negotiations and legislative strategy, including how frequently lawmakers calibrate their public statements and how committees plan oversight priorities. While approval ratings do not determine policy outcomes by themselves, they can influence the political pressure facing administration officials and members of Congress.
The Hill’s report focused on the approval rating figure and the overall direction of sentiment in the survey. Absent additional data from the poll release in The Hill’s account, the specific issue categories driving change were not detailed in the published summary, and no additional numerical breakdowns are reflected in the information provided.
Next steps depend on the full Fox News survey release, which would typically include methodological notes and sub-results. Those details are important for understanding whether the record-low result is concentrated among certain voter groups or reflects broader dissatisfaction across the electorate.
Why It Matters
- Approval ratings, while not policy decisions, can affect the level of political leverage and public pressure around administration actions and legislative negotiations.
- A record-low approval finding can shift how lawmakers and agencies prioritize communications, oversight plans, and message discipline, even when policy authority remains unchanged.
- To fully understand the implications, the complete poll release and any issue-specific breakdowns would be needed to identify which topics are most associated with changes in sentiment.
- The practical impact on policy is indirect, but sustained low approval levels often correlate with more contentious political environments and increased scrutiny of administration performance.
Key Facts
- The Fox News poll reported that 36 percent of respondents approve of President Donald Trump’s overall handling of the presidency.
- The poll reported 64 percent of respondents disapprove.
- The Hill reported that Fox News characterized the 36 percent approval figure as a record low for either of Trump’s presidential terms.
- The Hill said the survey reflected growing voter dissatisfaction with Trump’s handling of key issues.