Trump fails to reverse slide in popularity as voters sour on economy, FT poll shows

President Donald Trump’s approval ratings remain under pressure weeks before the U.S. midterm elections, with voters continuing to give him low marks on his handling of the economy, according to a Financial Times-Focaldata poll.

Only 25% of registered voters approve of Trump’s handling of jobs and the economy, while roughly one-fifth approve of his handling of inflation. More than two-thirds of respondents said the U.S. economy is heading in the wrong direction.

The online poll was conducted by London-based Focaldata from Oct. 2-4 among 2,275 registered voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

The findings come as Trump steps up his involvement in congressional campaigns and Republican lawmakers press him to address concerns over the rising cost of living. Republicans have also increased advertising spending to support candidates in competitive races.

The poll showed Trump’s overall approval rating at 34%, while 45% of registered voters said he was making it harder for Republican candidates to win in November. The U.S. economy added just 29,000 jobs in September, well below economists’ expectations, raising further concerns about labor market strength.

The results mirror a worsening electoral outlook for Republicans. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report recently shifted its ratings for 18 House races toward Democrats and projected Democratic gains of nine to 19 seats. Registered voters in the FT poll favored Democrats over Republicans by more than five percentage points.

Trump also faces opposition to his policy priorities on artificial intelligence and Iran. Roughly two-thirds of respondents supported binding federal rules for AI companies and a more cautious pace of development, diverging from Trump’s emphasis on voluntary safeguards and rapid innovation.

His approval rating on Iran has fallen by more than seven percentage points since May, with fewer than one-quarter of registered voters approving of his handling of the conflict. Nearly two-thirds said the U.S. should prioritize reaching an agreement as soon as possible rather than continuing the conflict to secure more favorable terms.

The conflict has pushed up borrowing costs and fuel prices. U.S. diesel prices, a key input for industry and agriculture, reached a record $6.53 late last month, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Trump rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in late September as the war entered its eighth month.

Despite declining approval for Trump among his own supporters, Republican voters remain largely committed to the party. Fewer than 70% of registered voters who backed Trump in 2024 now approve of his performance, down from 80% in May, when the FT began polling voters. Still, 80% said they intended to vote for the Republican candidate in their district in November.

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