Gallup Ends Presidential Approval Tracking After 88 Years

By: Paul Goldberg, Senior Editor | JRL CHARTS – LGBTQ Politics Asia

LAS VEGAS — (February 11, 2026) — In a decision that has sent shockwaves through political and media circles, Gallup announced it will discontinue its long-running presidential approval ratings — ending an 88-year tradition that began during the administration of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

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According to reporting by The Hill, the historic polling organization confirmed it will move away from measuring approval and favorability ratings for specific individual politicians, describing the decision as part of a broader strategic shift in its public research priorities.

“This reflects an evolution in how Gallup focuses its public research and thought leadership,” a Gallup spokesperson said in a statement. “Our commitment is to long-term, methodologically sound research on issues and conditions that shape people’s lives.”

Gallup emphasized that its work will continue through the Gallup Poll Social Series, the Gallup Quarterly Business Review, the World Poll, and its broader U.S. and global research portfolio. The organization characterized the move as aligning its public research more closely with its institutional mission rather than focusing on individual political figures.

A Historic Shift in American Political Measurement

Gallup’s presidential approval tracking has been considered one of the most consistent barometers of public sentiment in American politics since the 1930s. For decades, the data has provided a standardized reference point for evaluating public opinion across administrations, economic cycles, wars, and social movements.

The decision comes amid a reported downward trend in President Donald Trump’s approval ratings. According to The Hill, Trump’s Gallup approval rating as of last December was among the lowest the organization had recorded since it began polling presidents in the 1930s.

When asked whether Gallup had received feedback from the White House or members of the current administration prior to making the decision, the spokesperson responded that the change was “a strategic shift solely based on Gallup’s research goals and priorities.”

Media and Political Reaction

The announcement was met with immediate reaction across social media, with journalists, political analysts, and commentators expressing skepticism and concern about the timing.

Some critics noted President Trump’s history of publicly criticizing unfavorable polls and initiating legal challenges against media organizations and polling entities. Observers argue that presidential approval ratings — while imperfect — serve as an important transparency mechanism in a democratic system.

FIRE Executive Vice President Nico Perrino pointed to prior instances in which Trump had sued or threatened to sue pollsters following unfavorable results, raising broader questions about press freedom and political accountability.

At the same time, Gallup has maintained that its decision was internally driven and not the result of outside pressure.

Why Presidential Approval Ratings Matter

Presidential approval ratings are more than political headlines. They are often used by policymakers, lawmakers, investors, advocacy groups, and civil rights organizations to assess national mood and political momentum.

For the LGBTQ community and other historically marginalized groups, public opinion data can signal shifting cultural dynamics and inform strategic advocacy decisions.

Whether Gallup’s move represents a broader industry trend away from personality-based polling remains to be seen. Other polling institutions continue to conduct presidential approval surveys, but Gallup’s nearly nine-decade record provided one of the most consistent longitudinal datasets in modern political history.

The long-term impact of the decision will likely unfold in the months ahead.

Social Media Reactions

Curious that Gallup is ending its presidential polling during the term of the president with the lowest approval ever, who also happens to be famously vindictive and enjoys weaponizing government. https://t.co/D3TnpzcPns

— William Gill🌻 (@WilliamRGill) February 11, 2026

Gallup will no longer measure presidential approval after 88 yearshttps://t.co/3eoOil1LCX

— The Hill (@thehill) February 11, 2026

When a recent Times Siena poll showed Trump’s approval rating slipping, he said he was going to add the poll to his meritless defamation suit against @nytimes.

He’s sued other pollsters, too.

It’s hard to believe this isn’t connected to Trump’s litigiousness, which is a threat… https://t.co/jihx7OPm9N

— Nico Perrino (@NicoPerrino) February 11, 2026

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