Copyright Newsweek
President Donald Trump’s approval rating has taken a sharp drop amid growing voter anger over delayed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the federal shutdown. Newsweek's tracker shows that Trump's net approval rating has reached an all-time low of -13 points, with 42 percent approving and 55 percent disapproving. Pollster Nate Silver's tracker shows a similar trend, with Trump's net approval standing at -11 points as of November 5, down from -9 points at the beginning of the week. Why It Matters The drop in Trump’s approval rating signals significant trouble for the Republican Party heading into 2026 as the GOP tries to defend its majorities in the House and Senate. What To Know It comes as the government shutdown, which began on October 1, officially became the longest federal shutdown in history on Wednesday as it passed the 36-day mark. The shutdown has led to significant disruptions in vital welfare programs, notably SNAP. Approximately 42 million Americans enrolled in SNAP faced a major cut-back: the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it would draw on a $4.65 billion contingency fund to provide only around half the usual monthly benefits for nearly 42 million Americans in November. That was later revised to 65 percent. The Trump administration had insisted it would not have the money to keep funding SNAP and would have to halt the program. On Friday, two federal judges ordered the administration to resume SNAP payments, ruling that withholding the benefits was unlawful. Still, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social: “SNAP benefits…will be given only when the radical left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Trump's comments, insisting that the administration “is fully complying with the court order.” "The president does not want to have to tap into this fund in the future, and that is what he was referring to in his Truth Social post,” she said. Amid the uncertainty, polls have shown Trump’s approval ratings taking a notable hit this week, with nearly every major pollster showing him deep underwater. While Morning Consult (-5) and Clarity Campaign Labs (-6) recorded relatively modest deficits, most other surveys found far larger gaps between Trump’s approval and disapproval. Verasight/Strength in Numbers put his net approval at -15, Quinnipiac University at -14, YouGov/The Economist at -19, Ipsos/Reuters at -17, YouGov/Yahoo News at -16, and Navigator Research at -16. Even firms that typically produce stronger numbers for the president—Rasmussen Reports (-8) and RMG Research (-1)—found him in negative territory this week. Trump has also lost ground on his handling of the government shutdown. The latest YouGov/Economist poll showed that 58 percent of voters disapprove of his handling of the shutdown, down from 53 percent at the beginning of October. What People Are Saying Democratic Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren told reporters this week: “[Trump] thinks he can use hungry children as a bargaining chip against Democrats, saying, in effect, that it’s only Democrats who care whether or not kids go hungry. Well, it is Democrats who care, and it’s Americans who care. Republicans should come to the table and negotiate.” Voto Latino said in a statement: “The entirely avoidable Republican shutdown has now become the longest and most devastating in American history. Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the White House, yet they have chosen political brinkmanship over responsible governance. Instead of coming to the table to protect working families, they’ve walked away from negotiations, forcing millions of Americans to bear the cost of their inaction. "Millions of federal workers are currently working without pay or being furloughed indefinitely. The public servants who secure our airports, ensure our food is safe, and process Social Security checks, are now struggling to make ends meet with no paycheck in sight. "In just the last few days, nearly 42 million Americans were left without critical SNAP benefits due to President Trump’s refusal to fund these benefits. Republican lawmakers are showing a complete disregard for the health, stability, and dignity of working families across the country, and come next election year, voters won’t forget — they’ll reject them at the ballot box.” What Happens Next The shutdown continues as lawmakers attempt to reach a solution to open the government.
