Trump Faces 15-Point Drop With Independents to 26% Approval

President Donald Trump’s approval rating among independents has dropped to 26%, a 15-point decline over the past year, according to a new CNN poll released in February 2026.

The erosion among swing voters comes as his overall approval stands at 36%, the lowest level recorded since January 6.

CNN’s survey shows independent approval fell from 41% in late February 2025 to 26% this month. Overall approval dropped 12 points, from 48% to 36%.

Other key blocs show similar softness. Approval among Latino Americans fell 19 points to 22%. Voters ages 35–49 declined 19 points to 35%, while adults ages 18–34 dropped 16 points to 25%.

Even support within Trump’s party narrowed slightly, slipping from 90% to 82% among Republicans.

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The CNN poll states the president’s approval rating has “declined across the board since last year.”

The independent drop carries particular political weight because those voters often decide competitive congressional and statewide races. A sustained shift at that scale could reshape battleground dynamics ahead of the next election cycle.

At the same time, Republican backing remains solid relative to other groups, suggesting Trump’s core coalition has not fractured at the same rate as swing constituencies.

The poll graphic does not specify policy drivers behind the decline, leaving open whether economic concerns, foreign policy developments, or domestic issues are influencing voter sentiment.

Additional polling in coming weeks will test whether the independent decline represents temporary volatility or a longer-term trend.

For now, the 26% figure marks a notable low point among a bloc critical to electoral math.

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