Trump Claims ‘Doing Great’ as Approval Rating Hits Record Low

President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to a record low of 32%, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on October 5, 2026, while an NBC News/Telemundo survey found that 59% of Latino voters now want Democrats to control Congress. Asked about the grim numbers as he departed the White House for a campaign rally in Nebraska, Trump brushed them aside: “I’m doing great.”

Key Facts

The numbers: how the polls break down

The Reuters/Ipsos poll, conducted online among 4,506 US adults over six days and completed on Monday, October 5, matches the record low recorded in September — the weakest showing of Trump’s political career. Hispanic voters, who helped power his 2024 victory with nearly half of their vote, have turned sharply: only 24% approve of his performance.

The survey also offered warning signs for the Republican Party less than a month before the November 3 midterms. Registered voters prefer Democrats over Republicans by 44% to 37%, and among independents Democrats lead 37% to 21%, with 28% still undecided.

Brushing off the polls: “I’m doing great”

Speaking to reporters outside the White House before his Nebraska trip, Trump dismissed questions about his declining support. When pressed on the polls showing his losses among Latino voters, he answered: “I’m doing great,” before labeling the questioning outlet “fake news”.

The defiance fits a familiar pattern: the president has repeatedly insisted his standing is strong even as successive surveys show it slipping. This time the backdrop is unusually stark — a record-low national rating and a midterm campaign that has forced him to spend his 32-day rally blitz defending Republican strongholds.

Latino voters and the Trump approval rating slump

The NBC News/Telemundo poll, released on Sunday, October 4, found Latino voters deeply soured on Trump and his party, especially on the economy. By a 24-point margin, 59% to 35%, they said they would prefer Democrats to win control of Congress in November — twice the 12-point Democratic edge at this point in 2024.

Just 27% of Latino voters approve of Trump’s job performance, while 69% disapprove. On the cost of living, only 20% approve. Two-thirds say his administration’s deportation policies have gone too far, and roughly one-quarter say they know someone deported or detained by immigration authorities in the past two years. A CBS/YouGov poll released the same day found a similar picture: Latino likely voters favored a Democratic House candidate 60% to 39%.

Bombers pulled from RAF Fairford over threats

Trump also addressed the withdrawal of US bombers from the UK’s RAF Fairford base, confirming that “threats” drove the decision. “We actually know the people who made the threat,” he told reporters, adding: “There were some threats. And rather than tempting the enemy, we’ll capture the enemy and beat the enemy. But why should we leave them there? So we moved them around a little bit. Not very far.”

The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday, October 4, the removal of bombers — including B-1s, B-2s and B-52s — from the Gloucestershire base. US officials said the move was partly due to a reported threat of a possible Iranian drone attack against the base. It followed a suspected terror attack on the base on September 27; six people, including a dual British-Iranian national, were detained and later released on bail. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to directly tie the withdrawal to the arrests, describing it as a routine reallocation of resources.

Nebraska: the midterm rescue mission

Trump’s remarks came as he departed for Grand Island, Nebraska, where he headlined a rally at the Pinnacle Bank Expo Center alongside Republican Senator Pete Ricketts and Governor Jim Pillen. The visit is part of a 32-day campaign sprint ahead of the November 3 elections.

The stop underlines how seriously the White House is taking warning signs in places Republicans normally hold easily. Ricketts is defending his Senate seat against independent Dan Osborn, backed by national Democrats, and public polling shows the race essentially tied. Trump carried Nebraska by more than 20 percentage points in 2024, yet he is now spending presidential political capital there — with October 5 also marking the first day Nebraskans could vote early in person.

Conclusion

The two polls tell the same story from different angles: the Trump approval rating is at a record-low 32% nationally, and the Latino voters who helped deliver the 2024 victory have moved decisively back toward the Democrats. Trump’s answer — “I’m doing great” — projects confidence, but his campaign schedule tells another tale, with the president dispatched to defend a Senate seat in deep-red Nebraska.

With the midterms 29 days away, the White House faces a political landscape where even its own polling strength — immigration, its most favorable issue — is fading among the swing groups that decide elections. More US and international coverage in World news. Read also this story on watannews.dk.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is President Trump’s current approval rating?

A Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on October 5, 2026, puts Trump’s approval rating at 32%, a record low for his political career, unchanged from September.

How do Latino voters view Trump and the midterms?

An NBC News/Telemundo poll found just 27% of Latino voters approve of Trump, while 59% prefer a Democratic-controlled Congress versus 35% for Republicans.

Why were US bombers withdrawn from RAF Fairford?

Trump cited “threats”, and US officials pointed to a reported threat of a possible Iranian drone attack on the English base. The Pentagon confirmed the removal of B-1, B-2 and B-52 bombers on October 4.

Why is Trump campaigning in Nebraska?

Trump headlined a rally in Grand Island on October 5 for Senator Pete Ricketts, whose Senate race against independent Dan Osborn is unexpectedly tight, as part of a 32-day midterm blitz.

When are the US midterm elections?

The US midterm elections are on November 3, 2026, and will decide control of both chambers of Congress for the final two years of Trump’s current term.