Republican Voters Show Growing Discontent with Trump Ahead of 2026 Midterms

A CNN poll released this week found that 30% of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents disapprove of President Donald Trump, a level the survey describes as higher than in previous months. The poll surveyed attitudes on a range of topics, including the economy, foreign policy toward Iran, and the former president’s personal projects.

On economic issues, roughly half of respondents who identify with the party expressed dissatisfaction with Trump’s handling of the economy, which the poll notes is the top concern for voters overall. Attitudes toward Trump’s stance on Iran were also unfavorable, with disapproval rising from 30% in March to 40% at the time of the survey.

Respondents also indicated disapproval of Trump’s focus on personal financial matters and projects such as renovations to the White House ballroom and the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The poll reported that a majority of the base believes these priorities have diverted attention from inflation and other economic challenges.

Enthusiasm for Trump’s agenda appears to be waning. While nearly nine in ten Republican and GOP-leaning independents described themselves as “enthusiastic” or “optimistic” early in Trump’s current term, that share has fallen to 70%, with 30% describing themselves as “pessimistic” or “afraid.”

The findings contrast with a recent Pew Research Center survey, which showed 81% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents would vote against Trump in the upcoming midterms, compared with 44% of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents who said they would vote for him.