How Are Donald Trump's Approval Ratings? Joe Biden Gaining In 2020 Race As Support Wanes For Republicans

President Trump's approval ratings have taken on renewed importance amid the coronavirus pandemic and in an election year. While Trump enjoyed an intermittent bump in his approval ratings since mid-March, recent polls indicate he may face an uphill battle to get reelected.

The latest poll from Reuters/Ipsos shows 45% of Americans approve of Trump, with 53% in disapproval. The latest Economist/YouGov survey reveals 46% of Americans approve of the President, with 51% disapproving of his job performance.

Rasmussen, a right-learning survey, shows his approval and disapproval ratings even at 49%. Trump has frequently touted numbers from Rasmussen on his Twitter account.

Trump’s approval ratings are likely influenced by public perception of his handling of the coronavirus crisis. He has previously touted the strength of the economy but the GDP shrank by 4.8% in the first quarter amid lockdown measures to curb the spread of the virus. The Department of Labor revealed Friday that the unemployment rate spiked to 14.7% in April.

Recent general election polls show presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden with an advantage in the 2020 race. The latest Economist/YouGov survey shows Biden at 46% to Trump’s 42%, while the most recent CNBC poll shows Biden at 47% support to Trump’s 44%.

Biden has been using digital campaigning to garner support, as in-person rallies have been canceled due to the outbreak. At the same time, the Biden campaign is dealing with sexual assault allegations from former Senate staffer Tara Reade, which could impact his lead in the polls.

The 2020 election is expected to be particularly intriguing given the number of swing states after close results in 2016 and with polls showing previously one-sided states now in contention. Sixteen states have been considered "battleground" due in part to potentially tight senate races: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin.

Incumbent Republican senators are expected to face strong challenges in November. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado and Sen. Steve Daines, are just three senators who might be vulnerable.

In 2016, Trump earned narrow victories over Hillary Clinton in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. All three states had voted for Democrat nominees in every presidential election since 1992.

Working in Trump's favor is incumbency. The last time an incumbent president lost was in 1992.