President Donald Trump’s approval rating among independent voters has ticked up in a new poll, reversing a weekslong slide and offering a rare sign of movement with a crucial swing group.
Newsweek contacted the White House via email outside of regular working hours for comment.
Spokesman Davis Ingle told Newsweek in an emailed statement last week: “The ultimate poll was November 5, 2024, when nearly 80 million Americans overwhelmingly elected President Trump to deliver on his popular and common-sense agenda.”
Why It Matters
Independent voters often decide close races, and their mood will play a major role in shaping the 2026 midterm elections.
Small shifts in approval can signal broader political momentum—or warning signs—for both parties heading into November.
What To Know
A series of CBS News polls shows Trump’s approval among independents falling steadily through early 2026 before edging back up in late February.
Independent voters—often described as the country’s political middle—have shown movement in recent CBS News polling.
After weeks of worsening numbers, Trump’s standing with this group has improved slightly, though it remains deeply underwater overall.
A CBS News/YouGov poll conducted December 17-19, 2025, surveyed 2,300 adults across the United States and found Trump struggling with independents.
Just 33 percent said they approved of his job performance, while 67 percent disapproved.
That left Trump with a net approval rating (those who approve minus those who disapprove) of minus 34 points among independent voters.
The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points and was designed to reflect the U.S. adult population based on age, gender, race, education and past presidential vote.
Momentum moved further in the wrong direction in mid‑January.
In a follow‑up CBS News/YouGov survey carried out January 14-16, 2026, 2,523 adults were interviewed nationwide, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.3 points.
Among independents, approval slipped to 31 percent, while disapproval climbed to 69 percent.
That pushed Trump’s net approval down to minus 38 points, marking a clear deterioration from December.
That weaker standing held through much of February.
Another CBS News/YouGov poll, conducted February 20-23, 2026, questioned 2,381 U.S. adults and produced nearly identical results.
Independent voters again split 31 percent approving and 69 percent disapproving, leaving Trump’s net approval unchanged at minus 38 points.
As with earlier surveys, responses were adjusted to mirror the national adult population, and the margin of error was plus or minus 2.3 points.
Then came a modest shift.
A CBS News/YouGov poll fielded February 25-27, 2026, surveyed 2,264 adults nationwide and showed Trump regaining some ground with independents.
Approval among that group rose to 34 percent, while disapproval dipped to 66 percent.
That narrowed Trump’s net approval to minus 32 points—a small but notable improvement after weeks of stagnation.
The margin of error for this poll was plus or minus 2.5 points, and it used the same basic approach to ensure a nationally representative sample.
Taken together, the polls suggest Trump’s support among independents remains weak, but no longer appears to be in free fall.
Instead, late‑February numbers point to a possible stabilization—or even a slight rebound—after earlier declines.
What People Are Saying
White House spokesman Davis Ingle told Newsweek in an emailed statement: “The ultimate poll was November 5, 2024, when nearly 80 million Americans overwhelmingly elected President Trump to deliver on his popular and common-sense agenda.
“The president has already made historic progress not only in America but around the world. It is not surprising that President Trump remains the most dominant figure in American politics.”
Speaking at a White House event last week, Trump said: “It just amazes me that there’s not more support out there. We actually have silent support. I think it’s silent. I think that’s how I won.”
Writing for The i Paper, Chris Hopkins, political research director at Savanta, said: “Among independents and the more moderate wings of the GOP, his approval is starting to wane, with worries about the unpredictable nature of Trump’s leadership style.”
What Happens Next
Attention now turns to whether this late‑February shift holds as economic, foreign policy and domestic issues continue to dominate headlines.
With the midterm elections approaching, independent voters’ views are likely to remain a key test of the president’s political standing and the balance of power in Congress.
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