US Midterm Elections 2026: Trump approval plunges to 38% as polls begin to close, CBS exit poll shows

A CBS News exit poll put US President Donald Trump's approval rating at 38%, the lowest for an incumbent president during a midterm election, as polling closed across parts of the country on Tuesday.

CBS says that its exit polls show roughly three-quarters of voters are at least dissatisfied with the direction of the country. More voters have negative views of the economy now than they did two years ago,

Catch all live updates from US Midterm Elections here


The CBS poll says that most Americans think that the U.S. made the wrong decision to take military action in Iran.

Trump's 'ultimate' power

President Trump is already bracing for a brutal night. In a Telephonic interview to CBS News before polls closed the US President said, "I have the ultimate power - it's called veto," when he was asked about the prospect of a Democratic-controlled Congress next year.

Trump further said that his veto power could eventually force Democrats to cut bipartisan deals with him, should they make gains.

"Historically, you veto for a couple of months and then they come and say, 'We've got to make a deal,'" Trump told CBS News.

In a post on Truth social, Trump said he was closely following the polls on Fox News.

"Watching the Pre-Election Results on FoxNews, but I can't stand Jessica Tarlov's voice - DUMB AS A ROCK, but it's the voice that gets me. Have to go somewhere else until that LOSER is off the air - I'll be back later! President DONALD J. TRUMP," he said.

Polls begin to close in

Polls have closed in Georgia, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia, as well as parts of Indiana and Kentucky, marking some of the earliest closures on Election Day. Voters are deciding control of Congress, along with several key gubernatorial and state legislative contests.

In an early projection, Fox News said Virginia Democratic Senator Mark Warner was set to win another term, defeating Bert Mizusawa, a former military major general who entered politics.