Jimmy Kimmel mocks Donald Trump for his poll numbers.
Jimmy Kimmel Takes Low Blow at Trump Over Sinking Poll Numbers
May 29 2026, Published 3:02 p.m. ET
Jimmy Kimmel made fun of President Donald Trump over his declining approval ratings after a recent Economist/YouGov poll showed the president at one of the lowest points of his second term.
Kimmel started his Thursday night monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live! by highlighting Trump’s approval rating and joking that it had dropped to an "all-time low." He used a crude joke to illustrate the decline before discussing the poll’s results.
Jimmy Kimmel mocks Trump's approval rating.
“A new poll from The Economist/YouGov is bad news for Donald Trump,” Kimmel stated.
The survey, conducted from May 22-26 with 1,520 U.S. adult citizens, found that 34% of respondents approved of Trump's job performance, while 59% disapproved. The poll put Trump two points behind Vice President JD Vance in public approval, a detail Kimmel emphasized during the segment.
“That is not good,” Kimmel said. “Trump is now two points less popular than JD Vance. He’s only popular with white guys named Rufus.”
Kimmel also compared Trump’s popularity to that of the comedy film character Paul Blart, calling the president “the blart of the deal,” playing off Trump’s 1987 book, The Art of the Deal.
The late-night host then showed clips of Trump praising himself and his administration, including comments where Trump claimed he had done well since returning to the White House.
Kimmel contrasted those remarks with the new poll numbers and other recent surveys showing Trump struggling with voters.
Trump’s approval rating has stayed below 40% in several major polls in recent weeks. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released last week recorded his approval at 35%, while Pew Research Center found earlier this month that 34% of Americans approved of his job performance.
YouGov noted in an analysis earlier in May that Trump’s net approval remained near the lowest level ever recorded for him during either of his two terms. The organization stated his approval had stayed below 40% for two consecutive months.
These numbers have coincided with voter dissatisfaction over the economy, the cost of living, and Trump’s foreign policy.
Reuters reported that Republican approval of Trump has softened since early 2025, although he still has support from most GOP voters.
Kimmel also pointed to polling that showed Trump losing support from key groups that helped him win the election in 2024.
The Daily Beast reported that the poll and related data indicated signs of decline among white working-class voters and Latino voters who previously backed Trump.
Kimmel goes after Spencer Pratt, who is running for political office.
The monologue happened during a week when Kimmel also ridiculed Trump over his planned America 250 events, his effort to investigate E. Jean Carroll, and his ongoing attacks on political rivals. Kimmel often uses his ABC program to criticize Trump’s legal issues, public statements, and White House policies.
The White House dismissed the polling in a statement to The Daily Beast, instead pointing to Trump’s 2024 election victory and claiming voters supported his agenda.
Kimmel countered that argument during the segment, stating that the election result did not affect Trump’s current standing with the public.
“That was 19 months ago,” Kimmel said.
Trump has not publicly reacted to Kimmel’s latest monologue. He has often attacked late-night hosts who criticize him, including Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, and Seth Meyers.