President Donald Trump has now gone 20 days without recording a single positive approval rating in any major poll—the longest stretch of his second term so far.
According to data from RMG Research, the last time Trump held a net-positive approval rating was October 22, when the poll showed him narrowly above water. Since then, every subsequent survey has found more Americans disapproving than approving of his performance, marking an unprecedented run of negative polling.
Before this, the longest period without a positive rating was 14 days, between two RMG Research polls released on June 26 and July 10.
It comes as the government shutdown became the longest in history last week.
Why It Matters
The prolonged government shutdown has not only disrupted essential services and left hundreds of thousands of federal workers without pay, but it’s also inflicting political damage on Trump at a crucial moment. A sharp decline in the president’s approval rating could weaken his standing heading into the midterms.
What To Know
RMG is among the few pollsters that have occasionally shown Trump in positive territory, but its two most recent surveys—including one conducted on November 5—both put his net approval underwater.
The most recent survey from RMG Research, conducted October 29 to November 6 for Napolitan News Service, found 46 percent of voters approving of Trump’s job performance and 51 percent disapproving—a net rating of -5. A previous RMG poll conducted October 22 to 30 showed him only slightly better, with 48 percent approval and 49 percent disapproval, a net -1.
And RMG Research are not the only pollsters to have given Trump their worst rating yet. The latest Morning Consult poll showed Trump with his worst net approval rating of his second term at -10 points, with 44 percent disapproving and 54 percent approving.
Trump’s approval rating also hit a new low in Newsweek’s tracker last week, reaching -13 points, with 55 percent disapproving and 42 percent approving. However, it has now crept back up to -10 points, with 43 percent approving and 53 percent disapproving.
Recent individual polls have also suggested that discontent is growing. Surveys by Quinnipiac University (-14), YouGov/Economist (-18), Ipsos/Reuters (-17) and Navigator Research (-15) all found widespread disapproval.
Voters also appear especially unhappy with Trump’s handling of the shutdown itself. A new YouGov/Economist poll from November 2 found that 58 percent disapprove of his approach—up 5 points since early October.
The prolonged federal shutdown has seen thousands of federal workers furloughed, thousands of flights canceled, and public services facing major disruption as the federal freeze became the longest in history last week.
Meanwhile, the shutdown has severely disrupted access to food assistance for millions of Americans, deepening public frustration with Trump’s administration.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said it would use a $4.65-billion emergency reserve to keep the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) operational during the shutdown. However, benefits were reduced to about two-thirds of their normal amount for roughly 42 million recipients.
Officials argued that full payments were unsustainable without new congressional funding and warned the program could stop altogether if the budget impasse continued. Two federal judges later ruled that the cuts violated federal law and ordered the government to reinstate full payments.
Trump defended his stance on Truth Social, writing that benefits would only resume “when the radical left Democrats open up government.” The White House subsequently clarified that it would comply with the court order while insisting the president wanted to avoid using emergency funds in the future.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused Trump and congressional Republicans of “weaponizing hunger” to pressure Democrats in budget negotiations. According to The New York Times, the administration has since filed a new legal motion seeking to block full SNAP funding, even as the shutdown approaches a resolution.
Amid fears of benefits cuts, the latest YouGov/Economist poll showed that 74 percent of voters think SNAP benefits should be paid during the shutdown.
But an end could be in sight. The Senate on Monday approved a short-term spending bill to keep the government funded through the end of January, marking a major step toward ending the record shutdown. The measure advanced after several Democratic senators broke ranks with party leadership to side with Republicans in favor of reopening the government.
The agreement provides temporary funding for federal agencies while setting up a future Senate vote on extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, which are scheduled to lapse on January 1. Many Democrats had previously refused to back a deal without assurances that those credits would be renewed.
Still, the latest HarrisX poll showed that the damage from the shutdown may already be done. According to the survey, 37 percent said the shutdown has made them more likely to vote Democrat in the midterms, compared with 36 percent who said the same about the Republican Party.
What Happens Next
The Senate’s passage of a temporary funding bill on Monday brings the end of the historic government shutdown within reach, but several hurdles remain. The measure, which would keep the government funded through January 30, 2026, now heads to the House, where a vote could take place as soon as Wednesday, according to ABC News. If approved, the bill would move to Trump’s desk for his signature, formally ending the 40-day freeze.
However, key disputes still linger, including whether to extend ACA tax credits, a sticking point that has divided both chambers. Meanwhile, Politico reports that flight reductions at dozens of airports will remain in place until the Federal Aviation Administration restores staffing levels disrupted during the shutdown.
