President Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen to a record-low 32 percent, and his support among Latino voters has dropped to 24 percent, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed Monday. The numbers land one month before the November midterm elections that will decide control of Congress, and they come as Trump travels to Nebraska to rally Republicans and as his super PAC, MAGA, Inc., moves to take over payment for pro-Trump ads that had been funded with taxpayer money.

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President Donald Trump's political standing has reached a new low at the worst possible moment for his party. A Reuters/Ipsos poll completed Monday put his overall approval rating at 32 percent, a record low, while his approval among Hispanic voters fell to 24 percent, the lowest mark of either of his two terms in office. The survey, conducted over six days, arrives roughly a month before the November midterm elections that will determine whether Republicans keep their majorities in the House and Senate.

The same polling shows a dramatic reversal among Latino voters, a constituency Trump courted intensively in 2024. About 52 percent of Hispanic voters now say they plan to vote for Democrats in the midterms, compared with 26 percent for Republicans. An NBC News/Telemundo poll released Sunday found Democrats holding a 24-point lead among Latino registered voters on a 2026 ballot test, and just 24 percent of Hispanic Americans approving of Trump's job performance.

Trump dismissed the unfavorable numbers as he left the White House on Monday, telling reporters he believed he was doing well and blaming the media for the coverage. He then boarded a flight to Nebraska, where he was scheduled to rally Republicans in Grand Island as part of a broader push to energize the party's base in the final stretch of the campaign.

The Ad Controversy

The president's travel comes amid mounting backlash over a set of pro-Trump advertisements that have blanketed national cable and broadcast networks in recent weeks. The ads carry the message Paid for by the U.S. Government, and several versions have aired, including one featuring a recording of Trump vowing to defeat communism, socialism and Marxism in America, and another recounting the U.S. capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Contracting records show the Department of Homeland Security awarded LMD Agency $20 million for a National Media Campaign beginning September 20. A day earlier, the White House Office of Management and Budget granted DHS's Customs and Border Protection $20 million for OBBB Commemorative Events, according to a nongovernment database. The source of the funds was first reported by The Washington Sun.

The White House has defended the ads as public service announcements and denied they amount to campaign advertising, noting that the president is not on the ballot and that the spots contain no call to action. But the use of public money for messaging that promotes the president drew intense criticism, and on Monday Trump said he would shift the cost to his political operation.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that he had decided to do the patriotic ads and pay for them himself, and with money he raised for MAGA, Inc. The announcement marked a reversal after weeks of defending the taxpayer-funded approach.

Why It Matters

The convergence of sinking approval numbers, eroding Latino support and an advertising controversy creates a difficult environment for Republicans heading into the midterms. The elections are widely viewed as a referendum on Trump's second term, and Democrats have seized on the polling to argue that frustration with the president will translate into momentum for their candidates.

A Democratic majority in one or both chambers of Congress would place substantial constraints on Trump's agenda, including his ability to push legislation and confirm appointments. The Reuters/Ipsos survey also found the president losing ground among independent voters, a group that often decides close races.

The Latino shift is particularly striking given how central those voters were to Trump's 2024 victory. The Pew Research Center estimated that Trump and Kamala Harris were within three percentage points of each other in the 2024 presidential race, with Trump earning 48 percent of the Hispanic vote to Harris's 51 percent. That was a significant jump from 2020, when Trump won only 36 percent of Hispanic voters. Experts credited the gain with helping Trump win the White House, while his 2020 bid ended in defeat to Joe Biden.

Now, the Monday poll suggests those gains have largely evaporated. The economy appears to be a driving factor. According to the NBC News/Telemundo survey, the cost of living is the top issue for Latino voters, and Trump's inability to deliver on his promise to lower prices is weighing on his party. Latino voters gave Trump a four-point edge over Harris on economic handling in 2024; today they give Democrats a 21-point advantage on the same question. About 22 percent of Latino Trump voters said they are not planning to back Republicans in the midterms, with 14 percent choosing Democrats and 8 percent undecided.

Political Context

Trump has spent the past several days campaigning across the country for Republican candidates, even as some conservative-leaning states show signs of softening support. Some Republicans have begun to distance themselves from the president on issues such as immigration as they try to hold onto local backing. The dynamic is familiar in midterm cycles, when a president's party typically loses seats, but the current polling suggests the headwinds may be stronger than usual.

The advertising fight adds another layer of complication. The ads, produced by the U.S. government and paid for through an ad agency, have aired on national networks including CBS. The White House has characterized them as public service announcements, but critics argue they function as campaign messaging funded by taxpayers. Trump's decision to have MAGA, Inc. cover the cost may quiet some of the criticism, but it also draws attention to the scale and coordination of his political operation.

Meanwhile, the midterm map remains unsettled. New polling shows Democrats leading in governors races in some red states, and the party is hoping to build on that momentum. Trump's trip to Nebraska is part of an effort to shore up support in a state that Republicans typically carry comfortably, a sign of how defensive the party has become.

What Officials and Groups Are Saying

The White House has maintained that the ads are not political and that the president is not on the ballot. A White House official said last month that the PSAs are clearly not political and noted that the ads do not include a call to action. Trump, in his Truth Social post, described the ads as a positive promotion for the country and said he would pay for them himself and with money raised for MAGA, Inc.

Democrats have pointed to the polling as evidence that voters are rejecting Trump's agenda. The Reuters/Ipsos survey found that Americans are souring on the economy, the war with Iran and other key issues they attribute to the administration. Democratic strategists argue that the Latino shift, in particular, signals an opening in states and districts that were once considered safe for Republicans.

Some Republicans have quietly acknowledged the difficulty of the environment. The NBC News/Telemundo poll found that nearly a quarter of Latino Trump voters are not planning to back Republicans in the midterms, a warning sign for a party that had hoped to build on its 2024 gains. The survey also showed Democrats with a 24-point lead among Latino registered voters on the generic ballot.

Timeline

  • September 19: The White House Office of Management and Budget grants DHS's Customs and Border Protection $20 million for OBBB Commemorative Events, according to a nongovernment database.
  • September 20: DHS awards LMD Agency $20 million for a National Media Campaign, contracting records show.
  • Late September: Pro-Trump ads carrying the message Paid for by the U.S. Government begin airing on national cable and broadcast networks.
  • October 4: NBC News/Telemundo releases a poll showing Democrats with a 24-point lead among Latino registered voters and just 24 percent of Hispanic Americans approving of Trump's performance.
  • October 5: A Reuters/Ipsos poll completed Monday shows Trump's overall approval at a record-low 32 percent and his Hispanic approval at 24 percent.
  • October 5: Trump says his super PAC, MAGA, Inc., will pay for the pro-Trump ads, reversing the taxpayer-funded approach.
  • October 5: Trump travels to Nebraska to rally Republicans ahead of the midterms.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Trump's current approval rating?

A Reuters/Ipsos poll completed Monday put his overall approval at 32 percent, a record low. His approval among Hispanic voters fell to 24 percent, the lowest of either of his two terms.

Why are the taxpayer-funded ads controversial?

The ads, which carry the message Paid for by the U.S. Government, were produced by the government and paid for with public money through an ad agency. Critics argue they function as campaign messaging, while the White House says they are public service announcements.

How much did the ads cost?

Contracting records show DHS awarded LMD Agency $20 million for a National Media Campaign starting September 20. A day earlier, the White House Office of Management and Budget granted DHS's Customs and Border Protection $20 million for OBBB Commemorative Events.

What do the polls show about Latino voters?

The Reuters/Ipsos poll found 52 percent of Hispanic voters plan to back Democrats in November, compared with 26 percent for Republicans. The NBC News/Telemundo poll showed Democrats with a 24-point lead among Latino registered voters.

Why is Trump campaigning in Nebraska?

Trump is rallying Republicans in Grand Island as part of a broader effort to shore up midterm support, even in states that typically lean conservative.

What Happens Next

With roughly a month until the midterms, Trump's record-low approval and sliding Latino support will test whether Republicans can hold their majorities. The president's decision to have MAGA, Inc. pay for the ads may defuse one controversy, but the underlying polling trends remain a serious challenge. Voters will render their verdict in November, and the results will shape the balance of power in Washington for the remainder of Trump's term.