In a significant shift for American political analysis, Gallup, the renowned public opinion polling agency, has announced it will stop tracking presidential approval ratings after an uninterrupted run of 88 years. This decision comes at a time when former President Donald Trump remains intensely focused on polling data and frequently criticises media outlets that publish numbers he deems unfavourable.
A Historic Barometer Falls Silent
A spokesperson for Gallup confirmed the move on Wednesday, stating the cessation of measuring the favorability of individual political figures is "solely based on Gallup’s research goals and priorities." The agency framed this as part of an evolution in its public research and thought leadership focus.
The Gallup Presidential Approval Rating has been one of the most cited metrics for gauging public sentiment on a sitting president's performance since its inception during Harry Truman's administration. It has provided a unique numerical snapshot of American history, capturing moments like the staggering 90% approval rating for George W. Bush in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Trump's Tumultuous Relationship with Polls
The announcement coincides with Donald Trump's ongoing, highly public campaign against polling organisations and news companies. Trump, who has consistently scrutinised surveys of his popularity, saw his second-term approval rating dip to 36% in December according to Gallup's final readings—among the lowest the firm ever recorded. He began that term with a 47% approval rating.
Trump's hostility towards negative polling has escalated into legal threats. In January, following a New York Times/Siena College poll showing his approval at 40%, a three-point drop since September 2025, Trump vowed to expand an existing defamation lawsuit to include the newspaper.
On his Truth Social platform, he declared: "The Times Siena Poll, which is always tremendously negative to me, especially just before the Election of 2024, where I won in a Landslide, will be added to my lawsuit against The Failing New York Times."
Media Defence and Methodology
The New York Times robustly defended its polling practices. In a statement posted on X, spokesperson Charlie Stadtlander countered: "President Trump likes polls that appear favorable to him and dislikes polls that do not. But whether a poll is good or bad for the president has no bearing on our methodology." The newspaper emphasised its polls are widely respected for their methodological rigour.
Gallup's New Research Direction
Despite ending this iconic time series, Gallup insists its core mission continues. The spokesperson outlined that the agency's commitment to "long-term, methodologically sound research on issues and conditions that shape people’s lives" will persist through other channels.
These include the Gallup Poll Social Series, the Gallup Quarterly Business Review, the World Poll, and a broader portfolio of U.S. and global research initiatives. The decision effectively marks the end of an era for a metric that has been a staple of political journalism and academic study for generations.
The vacuum left by Gallup's departure from presidential approval tracking raises questions about which organisations will become the new standard-bearers for this critical measure of executive popularity, especially in a climate where the validity of polls is itself a frequent subject of partisan debate.
