President Trump’s approval rating has held strong during the federal government shutdown. A recent poll showed that respondents still viewed Trump favorably, despite a slight majority holding congressional Republicans responsible.
In a new Reuters/Ipsos poll, which closed on Monday, Respondents held the GOP slightly more responsible for the shutdown than the Democratic Party. The shutdown, which began on Oct. 1, is the third-longest in U.S. History.
Among respondents, 50 percent viewed the Republicans as the responsible party, while 43 percent blamed Democrats. The assignment of blame for the shutdown also broke along party lines, with 84 percent of Republicans blaming Democrats and 89 percent of Democrats blaming Republicans.
Despite respondents holding the GOP responsible, President Trump managed to increase his approval rating in October. The poll found Trump’s approval at 42 percent, which represents a 2-point increase from a poll conducted earlier this month. This is the first time Trump’s approval rating has reached 42 percent since the beginning of September.
Republicans control both the House of Representatives and the Senate. However, a bill to reopen the government cannot be passed without the support of some congressional Democrats. On Monday, the Senate held a vote on a stopgap spending bill, which would reopen the government, but failed to reach the necessary 60-vote majority required for approval.
Health subsidies are the issue cited by Democrats as the basis for their refusal to back the legislation. The subsidies had broad support among respondents of the poll, with 72 percent overall saying they should be continued. The subsidies were supported by almost all Democrats and approximately half of Republican respondents.
President Trump continues to enjoy strong support from approximately 90 percent of Republicans. His support among Democrats is much lower, at around five percent. The 42 percent approval rating reflected by the poll represents a five-point decline for President Trump from the 47 percent approval he held upon returning to office in January 2025.
