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Politics279 words2 min read

Trump's Approval Ratings Fall Ahead of Midterms

2 men in black suit sitting on red chair
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New polling data shows President Trump's approval rating falling further, according to a report from The Hill. The drop is being seen as a possible warning sign for the Republican Party ahead of this year's midterm elections.

At the same time, Trump's disapproval rating โ€” the share of people who say they do not support his job performance โ€” is reportedly reaching some of the highest levels of his time in office.

One notable shift has been among white voters in red states, states that typically support Republican candidates. According to the report, Trump's approval among this group has now flipped, meaning more of these voters disapprove of him than approve.

This change matters because these voters have traditionally formed a strong part of Trump's political base. A drop in support from this group could signal wider problems for Republicans in upcoming elections.

The timing is significant, since the midterm elections โ€” held partway through a president's four-year term โ€” will decide many seats in Congress, including the House of Representatives and Senate.

Historically, a president's approval ratings can strongly influence how his party performs in midterm voting. Low approval often leads to losses for the president's party, as unhappy voters may choose to support the opposing side.

The GOP, the common nickname for the Republican Party, is likely to watch these numbers closely in the coming months. Strategists may use the polling to adjust campaign messages before voters go to the polls.

While the report does not give exact percentage numbers, it emphasizes that the trend line is moving in a direction that could concern Republican leaders as they prepare for a tough election cycle.

Vocabulary8 words

approval rating
a number showing how many people support a leader's work
disapproval rating
a number showing how many people do not support a leader's work
warning sign
something that shows a problem might happen soon
red states
states that usually vote for one political party
midterm elections
elections held in the middle of a president's term
Congress
the U.S. group that makes national laws
GOP
a common short name for the Republican Party
political base
the group of voters who usually support one leader or party

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Quiz

1. What trend is described in Trump's approval ratings?
2. What has 'flipped' among white voters in red states?
3. True or false: Low presidential approval ratings can hurt a president's party in midterm elections.

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Fill-in-the-blank listening

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

New polling data shows President Trump's _____ falling further, according to a report from The Hill.

The drop is being seen as a possible _____ for the Republican Party ahead of this year's midterm elections.

At the same time, Trump's _____ is reportedly reaching some of the highest levels of his time in office.

One notable shift has been among white voters in _____, states that typically support Republican candidates.

According to the report, Trump's approval among this group has now _____.

This change matters because these voters have traditionally formed a strong part of Trump's _____.

The timing is significant, since the _____ will decide many seats in Congress.

The _____, the common nickname for the Republican Party, is likely to watch these numbers closely.

Discussion questions

  1. Why might a president's approval rating affect his party's performance in midterm elections?
  2. What could cause white voters in red states to change their opinion of a president?
  3. Do you think opinion polls accurately reflect public opinion? Why or why not?
  4. How might the Republican Party respond to falling approval ratings before an election?

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