Gallup Stops Tracking Presidential Approval Ratings
Gallup has announced it will cease tracking presidential approval ratings after nearly 90 years. This long-standing practice provided insight into American opinions of their elected officials, dating back to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency.
Shift in Corporate Strategy
The decision to stop these ratings is part of Gallup’s new corporate strategy. The organization aims to concentrate on polling related to issues and policies instead of approval ratings. According to spokesperson Justin McCarthy, the goal is to produce analytics that “inform and drive meaningful change.”
Continued Global Polling Efforts
Despite discontinuing presidential approval ratings, Gallup will maintain its annual Gallup World Poll. This survey assesses public sentiment across approximately 140 countries worldwide.
Historical Context and Past Decisions
This strategic shift recalls Gallup’s 2015 choice to discontinue presidential election polling. At that time, Frank Newport, the editor in chief, explained that the organization wished to focus on enhancing its role in ensuring public voices were part of the democratic process.
Challenges in a Crowded Polling Market
With an influx of polling organizations, distinguishing a single poll has become increasingly challenging. For example, in January 2025, The New York Times presented data from over 50 polls evaluating presidential approval ratings.
However, Gallup’s approval ratings are widely recognized for providing extensive historical data, offering valuable insights into American opinion trends over time. Political analysts and media professionals frequently rely on Gallup’s methodology.
Polling Methodology
Gallup uses live interviewers for its polling, a method that is becoming rare yet is known for its accuracy. This traditional approach contrasts with many newer polling techniques in use today.
Last Approval Rating and Political Climate
Gallup’s final presidential approval rating was recorded in December 2025, placing President Trump’s approval at 36%. This rating reflects one of the lowest points during his presidency, amid heightened tensions with the media.
Trump’s administration faced scrutiny after he threatened legal action against respected pollster J. Ann Selzer. This followed a poll that indicated Kamala Harris had a lead in Iowa just before the general election, a state Trump ultimately won by 13 percentage points.
- Gallup stops tracking presidential approval ratings after 90 years.
- Shift towards issues and policy polling.
- Annual Gallup World Poll continues.
- Last presidential approval rating for Trump was 36% in December 2025.
