Legendary analytics firm Gallup to stop tracking presidential approval ratings after nine decades of service

One of the most noteworthy and renowned analytics organizations, Gallup, announced on February 11 that it would stop running its presidential approval rating poll after 88 years of informing American voters. While Gallup has shown Donald Trump's approval rating crater over the last 12 months, the company claims that the president has nothing to do with the decision, and that the change is part of a broader effort to align Gallup's work with its new mission. Gallup was founded in 1935; is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has been tracking presidential approval ratings since 1935.

Why cut the rating?

Gallup has released multiple reasons why it cancelled the legendary service, but all of the answers align with its overall messaging. A statement from Gallup claimed the quality of the ratings had deteriorated, and that they were now widely produced, aggregated, and interpreted. According to Gallup, the ratings are no longer an area where it can make its “most distinctive contribution.” Gallup claims its commitment lies in “long-term, methodologically sound research on issues and conditions that shape people's lives.” Whether Gallup believed the public was misinterpreting Donald Trump's abysmal approval rating, or it believed the results had become skewed, media outlets are pointing to the change in practice as another example of Donald Trump's strong-arming.

Pushing propaganda

It's no secret that Donald Trump is extremely focused on convincing the world he's the greatest president in American history. Trump has claimed time and time again to be America's saviour. Trump claims he's saved the border, the economy, the housing market, violent crime, and America's foreign trade policy; when in reality, all have suffered under his reign. Trump is actively censoring media outlets promoting democratic candidates, and dominating cable ad space with pro-Trump messaging (massaging might be a better word). Multiple news outlets have theorized that Gallup is cancelling the approval ratings poll because of perceived or direct pressure from the Trump administration.

Sinking approval rating

With an approval rating of just 37% as of February 2026, Donald Trump's single-year approval rating is historically low. His average approval rating throughout his second term is the lowest in American history. The runner-up? Trump 1.0, 2016-2020. Joe Biden's average approval rating was also among the lowest in American Presidential history. Trump refuses to answer questions about his approval rating, but he has denied the data showing across multiple polls, claiming ‘I'm popular' amid countless data proving otherwise. Trump also claimed in the same interview that he thinks he has the greatest economy “actually ever in history”.

Trump's approval rating has been steadily falling since his inauguration in 2025. In February 2025, Trump's approval rating was nearly 10% higher than the measly 38% it sits at now. It seems as though a fifth of Trump's voter base now has buyer's remorse, regretting their decision to elect Donald Trump. Unfortunately, you can't return fascism once you've brought it home. America let Donald Trump stay on her couch, and now he's claiming squatter's rights; provoking Democrats with talks of an infinite presidency, and posturing America's military strength across the world by threatening to annex longtime allies and militarily neutral countries. If Trump's money wasn't tied into Switzerland, he'd probably be threatening to annex them too.

What's next for Gallup?

While Gallup may be cancelling its most famous poll, the presidential approval rating is no longer the company's focus. For the last three years, Gallup has been aggressively expanding into the business analytics and consultation market, using its data-collection skills to create data for corporations – specifically focusing on employee satisfaction metrics. Gallup also conducts research outside of politics and individual markets. Gallup collects data on the public's views on the spread of AI and other global indicators of public trust and happiness with major institutions.

Trump's erratic interview

In an interview with FOX's Larry Kudlow in early February 2026, Trump both claimed he was popular and made a series of melodramatic statements about his success. According to Trump, he inherited a country that was ‘going to die' and that he alone has saved America. He blamed the ‘fake news' for painting him as a failure and claimed that he loves doing interviews so he can overstate highlight his administration's success.

As of now, YouGov/The Economist have Trump's approval rating at 37%, Gallup at 38%, and Silver Bulletin says his disapproval rating is -13.7.

And that was before the Iran war.