Gavin Newsom sharply criticized Donald Trump this week, citing new polling that shows the president entering his State of the Union address with historically weak approval numbers. In a social media post responding to a report highlighting Trump’s standing, Newsom wrote: “Almost two-thirds of Americans say Donald Trump is bad on the job.
Almost two-thirds of Americans say Donald Trump is bad on the job.
— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) February 24, 2026
Who would've guessed how unpopular it'd be to give tax cuts to the rich, demolish national landmarks, and cover up a pedophilia scandal? https://t.co/RzumJ5zGYc
Who would’ve guessed how unpopular it’d be to give tax cuts to the rich, demolish national landmarks, and cover up a pedophilia scandal?”
Newsom’s remarks came in response to a summary of new polling reported by Newsweek, which stated that the president’s net approval is the lowest of any 21st-century president heading into a State of the Union address during a second term.
According to the report, based on analysis from CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten, Trump’s net approval rating stands at minus 27 points ahead of the address. The figure comes from a CNN/SSRS poll conducted from February 17 to February 20, 2026, surveying 2,496 respondents with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. The poll found that 36 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s job performance, while 63 percent disapprove, leaving him 27 points underwater.
Enten described the numbers as historically poor when compared with both Trump’s own record and other modern presidents. “You don’t have to be a mathematical genius to know that minus 27 points is considerably lower than minus 15 or minus 11. So Trump isn’t just weaker than he’s ever been going into a State of the Union address, he is weaker than any other president this century going into a State of the Union address at this point in their second term,” Enten said on CNN.
During Trump’s first term, his net approval ahead of State of the Union speeches ranged roughly between minus 10 and minus 15 points. By comparison, former President Barack Obama entered a comparable moment in his second term at about minus 15, while former President George W. Bush was around minus 11.
A significant driver of Trump’s decline has been his standing among independent voters. According to Enten, Trump’s net approval among independents now sits at minus 47 points, the weakest level he has recorded with that group across either of his terms. A year earlier, independents rated him at minus 13, marking a sharp drop that analysts say could have implications for upcoming midterm elections, where unaffiliated voters often play a decisive role.
The White House pushed back on the characterization of the polling. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told Newsweek in an emailed statement: “The ultimate poll was November 5, 2024, when nearly 80 million Americans overwhelmingly elected President Trump to deliver on his popular and common sense agenda. The President has already made historic progress not only in America but around the world. It is not surprising that President Trump remains the most dominant figure in American politics.”
President Trump addresses his dropping approval numbers heading into tonight's State of the Union address:
— The American Conservative (@amconmag) February 24, 2026
"It just amazes me that there's not more support out there. We actually have a silent support. That's how I won, I got probably got 85 million votes." pic.twitter.com/OorjVFu9R1
Speaking at a White House event on Monday, Trump said: “It just amazes me that there’s not more support out there. We actually have silent support. I think it’s silent. I think that’s how I won.”
Presidents have historically used the State of the Union address to attempt to reset public opinion or reframe their legislative priorities. However, the data outlined by Enten suggest Trump is approaching the moment from a comparatively weaker position than any president this century at the same stage of a second term.
The political backdrop also includes early speculation about the 2028 presidential race. According to current betting odds on Polymarket, Newsom stands at 17 percent for the 2028 presidential spot, while Vice President JD Vance is at 23 percent. Trump, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term, appears at 3 percent.
As Trump prepares to deliver his State of the Union address, attention will turn to whether the speech shifts public sentiment or whether economic conditions, legislative battles, and electoral dynamics further shape the approval trends highlighted in the latest polling.
