President Donald Trump's deployment of the National Guard in states remains controversial and elevates his disputes with several left-leaning governors.

It started with Washington, DC, and since Trump has deployed troops in California, Illinois, Tennessee and Oregon. Only Tennessee's governor welcomed the move, and the Trump administration has faced legal challenges from the other states. Plus, it has not been popular among Americans. In a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Oct. 8, 58% of Americans said the president should only send armed troops to face external threats.

California is also in the middle of a growing redistricting battle among states. On Nov. 4, Golden State voters will decide whether to pass a new Congressional map measure that aims to counter Texas' new map, which was designed to give Republicans more seats in the 2026 midterm elections. Missouri has also approved a new map that favors Republicans.

Here is what to know about Trump's approval ratings in the states and how that compares to his average:

What states give Trump the highest approval rating?

Trump has a net positive approval rating in 24 states, according to Morning Consult, which gathers polls over the course of three months to get a look at state-level data among registered voters. The Oct. 14 update shows two states have flipped to net negative approval since the September update. Georgia previously gave Trump a net positive approval, and Arizona was equally split; they're now net negative by Morning Consult's results.

Morning consult notes this is the first time his approval rating has been net negative in every 2024 swing state.

As previously, Trump received his best approval rating in Wyoming and worst in Vermont, though it should be noted small states have the widest margin of error in these polls.

In Oregon and California, 38% approve of Trump's job performance, both among the worst 10 in the U.S. for Trump, according to Morning Consult. In Illinois, 40% approve of Trump's job performance.

What is Trump's approval rating overall?

Averages based on RealClearPolitics and New York Times aggregators show Trump's approval rating is net negative but relatively stable over the last few months.

As of Jan. 27, 50.5% approved, giving Trump a net positive rating until March 13, when it flipped to net negative with 47.8% approval, compared to 48.5% disapproval, RealClearPolitics graphics show. The approval rating reached a low on April 29 at 45.1% approval, which fell around Trump's 100-day mark. It reached a new low on Sept. 30, the day before the government shutdown started, at 44.8% approving.

The New York Times aggregator showed Trump's approval fell from 52% approval in January to 44% approval in April, and has mostly held steady since. According to the Times, Trump's term low is 43% approval, which he first reached on Aug. 21, about 10 days into Trump's federal takeover of Washington, DC.

As of Oct. 16, Trump's average approval is 45.4%, according to RealClearPolitics, and 43% on average, according to the New York Times.

Trump's approval rating is low compared to other presidents

In a Gallup poll conducted from Sept. 2-16, 40% approved of Trump's job performance, unchanged from the previous month.

A historical analysis by Gallup shows Trump's approval ratings in September of his first years in office − both as the 45th and 47th presidents − are lower than any other modern president at the same time in their administrations. Here is how his September approval compares to other presidents in September of their first year of their term, according to Gallup:

  • Joe Biden (September 2021) - 43% approve
  • Trump (September 2017) - 37% approve
  • Barack Obama (September 2009) - 52% approve
  • George W. Bush (September 2001) - 76% approve
  • Bill Clinton (September 1993) - 50% approve
  • George H.W. Bush (September 1989) - 70% approve
  • Ronald Reagan (September 1981) - 52% approve

Contributing: Reuters and USA TODAY's Eduardo Cuevas and Kathryn Palmer

Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@gannett.com. Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @kinseycrowley.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is Trump’s approval rating? See how it compares across states

Reporting by Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect