Approval Ratings Are Tanking—And Not Just Trump's

The Democrats’ stance on Gaza, their tepid opposition to Trump’s domestic agenda, and their failure to rally behind candidates like Mamdani are fueling anger and disillusionment.

At today’s meeting with Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa (L) in the Oval Office, Trump was asked about the Epstein list: "It was a hoax. It's all been a big hoax. It's perpetrated by the Democrats, and some stupid Republicans and foolish Republicans fall into the net. And so they try to do the Democrats’ work” (ABC News).

Donald Trump’s approval rating just took another hit. According to the latest YouGov poll, his net approval has dropped to -17, down from -11 just weeks ago. Only 39% of Americans approve of his performance, while 56% disapprove. That’s a steep fall, but here’s the kicker: Congressional Democrats are polling even worse.

Only 66% of Democrats still support their congressional reps, down from 85% in late 2024.

With midterm elections on the horizon, and the Republican party in tatters, the Democrats have somehow achieved approval numbers that are lower than the world’s most hated man.

Let that sink in.

These aren’t cherry-picked numbers. They’re consistent across multiple polls—from Harvard CAPS/Harris to YouGov/Economist. The message is clear: Americans are fed up with both parties, but Democrats are losing ground faster.

What’s Fueling the Collapse?

Epstein Fallout: Trump’s DOJ just declared there’s no “client list” — or rather, there is a client list, but “the Democrats wrote it”.

The public backlash is fierce, and some Democratic leaders, who promised accountability, are now seen as complicit in the silence. During the Biden administration (2021–2025), Democrats controlled the DOJ for four years. Yet no significant Epstein files were released, despite public pressure and internal access. This isn’t just about Epstein. It’s about institutional rot—and whether either party is willing to confront it. Democrats had the power. They had the access. And they chose silence. We can only guess why. Maybe the files had something in them about Bill Clinton’s relationship with Epstein?

Inflation News and Tariff Whiplash: Trump’s erratic trade policies are hurting consumers, but Democrats haven’t offered a coherent alternative. Inflation is once again on the rise, and voters are faced with a choice between chaos and complacency. Chaos is the air that Trump breathes to stay afloat.

ICE thuggery and the military occupation of California: Democrats are widely seen as weak and divided in their response to Trump’s immigration sweeps, ICE raids, and the military occupation of California. While some progressive voices have spoken out forcefully, the party’s overall posture has been muted and fractured. Democrats voted against Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” which includes a $170 billion boost to ICE, but top Democrats like Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer avoided mentioning immigration entirely in their public opposition, while 75 House Democrats even voted for a resolution expressing “gratitude” to ICE agents, sparking backlash from immigrant rights groups

Both are polling in the basement, but neither Chuck Schumer nor Hakeem Jeffries will throw their support behind the party’s favorite, Zohran Mamdani. They don’t want to bite the AIPAC hand that feeds them.

Leadership Vacuum: Schumer and Jeffries are polling in the basement. The party lacks national figures who can inspire, unify, or even explain what the hell they stand for. The purge of DNC vice-chairperson David Hogg fits into the broader scenario of Democratic weakness and internal dysfunction. It’s become a symbolic rejection of moral urgency and generational change.

Hogg had launched a $20 million initiative through his PAC, Leaders We Deserve, to primary entrenched Democrats in safe blue districts, calling them “asleep at the wheel.” He criticized Democrats for failing to confront Trump’s immigration sweeps, ICE refunding, and the military occupation of California.

Even worse, Schumer and Jeffries refused to support the party’s primary winner, Zohran Mamdani, in the NYC mayor’s race. This turning away from their own party’s nominee is being directly tied to their reliance on AIPAC funding since Mamdani has been unapologetically critical of Israel’s war on Gaza and supportive of Palestinian rights. Mamdani’s insurgent campaign has electrified voters with bold proposals: rent freezes, city-owned grocery stores, and defunding ICE. He’s polling ahead of Cuomo, Adams, and Sliwa—even in head-to-head matchups.

Gaza: The Moral Fault Line

Perhaps the most damning blow to Democratic credibility is their support for Israel’s war, ethnic cleansing, and forced mass starvation in Gaza. Over 57,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of them civilians, by bombs and missiles provided by the U.S. Trump’s unwavering support for Israel is alienating independents and even many younger Republican (MAGA) voters. But Democrats are unable to take advantage of these divisions in the enemy’s camp.

Only 33% of rank-and-file Democrats now have a favorable view of Israel, down from 63% in 2022. A majority of Democratic voters say Israel’s actions are unjustified, while party leaders remain silent or culpable.

This isn’t just a foreign policy issue—it’s a moral reckoning. The war in Gaza has become a litmus test for integrity, and both parties are failing it. Democrats are hemorrhaging support from progressives, Arab Americans, and younger voters who see Gaza as a defining human rights crisis.

The Midterm Mirage

Democrats are banking on anti-Trump partisanship to carry them through 2026, and it may. But history warns that when both parties are underwater, turnout drops, third-party or boycott interests spike, and chaos becomes the default setting. As we saw last year, anything can happen.

If Democrats want to reverse this trend, they need more than anti-Trump soundbites. They need a moral reset, a message beyond go slow and don’t make waves. and a new crop of young, progressive leaders.