Governance Crisis: Congress Collapses with 80% Disapproval

TeleSUR, December 1, 2025 —

The US president’s approval rating stands at just 36%, according to Gallup, with support plummeting to 60% among independents. The longest federal shutdown in history and Republican electoral defeats have deepened the crisis of governance in Washington.

President Donald Trump’s approval rating plummeted to 36%, setting a new all-time low in his second term, according to the latest Gallup poll.

The survey, conducted between November 3 and 25 in the United States, reflects the devastating impact of the midterm elections, where Democrats made significant gains, and the longest government shutdown in the country’s history.

Disapproval climbed to 60%, marking a five-percentage-point drop from the previous month and breaking three months of relative stability in which his approval rating fluctuated between 40% and 41%.

This collapse brings the president dangerously close to his worst rating ever: the 34% reached in 2021, after the storming of the Capitol that marked the end of his first term.

The decline is especially pronounced among independent voters, whose support plummeted eight points to just 25%, the lowest figure recorded in both presidential terms.

Even the traditional Republican base is showing cracks: approval among party members fell seven points to 84%, while Democrats maintain their almost absolute rejection with only 3% positive ratings.

The prolonged shutdown of the federal government, which stretched to become the longest in American history before ending on November 12, has left deep marks on public perception.

The areas where Trump once displayed strength now reveal vulnerability: his approval rating on healthcare is barely 30%, while his handling of the federal budget and the situation in Ukraine are tied at a meager 31%. Only on the issue of crime does he achieve his best score, with 43%.

Congress is sinking

The crisis of confidence is not limited to the Executive branch. The US Congress barely manages a 14% approval rating, facing a devastating 80% disapproval rating among citizens.

Although this figure represents a slight improvement compared to the historic 9% recorded after the 2013 government shutdown, the legislative paralysis continues to erode institutional credibility.

The impact of the federal shutdown was devastating for Republicans on Capitol Hill: their approval rating plummeted from 54% in September to a mere 23% currently. Independents offer 15% support, while Democrats maintain their disapproval with only 4% positive assessment of the legislative work.

Republican electoral defeats, coupled with the government shutdown and persistent concerns about the cost of living, according to analysts, create a perfect storm that jeopardizes the party’s prospects in next year’s midterm elections. Even on issues where Trump historically showed strength —the economy, immigration, and the budget deficit— his ratings are no longer favorable, foreshadowing possible complications for the Republican agenda in the coming months.