WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Gallup report released in July 2026 showed the Supreme Court's approval rating dropped to a record low of 33%, driven by a decline in Republican support. By July 2026, Republican approval of the Supreme Court had fallen to 58%, a decrease of 21 percentage points from September 2025.

Gallup identified President Donald Trump’s high-profile legal losses during the 2025-26 term as a possible explanation for the decline in Republican support for the court. In February 2026, the Supreme Court struck down Trump’s signature tariffs. In June 2026, the Supreme Court declared Trump’s executive order limiting access to birthright citizenship unconstitutional. The court also barred Trump from removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook from office while her challenge to her firing continues.

Despite the decline, Republican approval remains higher than that of other political groups. A Marquette Law School Poll found that 74% of Republicans approve of the way the Supreme Court handles its job, compared to 22% of Democrats. Republicans are less likely than Democrats to say the Supreme Court has too much power or has given the president too much authority.

Justices appointed by Republican presidents currently outnumber justices appointed by Democratic presidents 6-3 on the Supreme Court. During the same period, the Supreme Court's approval rating among Democrats remained at 12%, which Gallup described as essentially unchanged.

In response to the court's actions, Democratic lawmakers are leading efforts to reform the Supreme Court, including bills to add justices, impose term limits, and change case selection procedures. Justice Amy Coney Barrett testified before Congress alongside Justice Elena Kagan on July 14, 2026.

Why It Matters

The decline in Republican approval of the Supreme Court represents a shift in the political landscape surrounding the judiciary. With Republican approval falling 21 percentage points since September 2025, the court faces growing criticism from the party that appointed the majority of its current justices. This trend coincides with high-profile rulings against Trump, including decisions on tariffs, birthright citizenship, and the removal of a Federal Reserve governor.

The polarization of views on the court's performance has led to calls for structural reform from Democratic lawmakers. As public perception of the court's neutrality comes into question, with almost half of Americans believing rulings on Trump's policies are based on ideology, the institution's legitimacy faces scrutiny. The divergence in approval ratings between Republicans and Democrats shows the deepening partisan divide over the role and power of the Supreme Court.

Timeline

The Supreme Court established a code of conduct in November 2023 with no external body to enforce it. In September 2025, 79% of Republicans approved of the Supreme Court's performance, according to Gallup. On February 20, 2026, Trump described the Supreme Court's tariff ruling as "an embarrassment to their families" during a press conference.

In February 2026, the Supreme Court struck down Trump’s signature tariffs. On April 22, 2026, Trump posted on Truth Social that "certain ‘Republican’ Justices have just gone weak, stupid, and bad." On May 10, 2026, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Justices Gorsuch and Barrett "were appointed by me, and yet have hurt our Country so badly!" In June 2026, the Supreme Court declared Trump’s executive order limiting access to birthright citizenship unconstitutional.

What's New

The Marquette Law School Poll, conducted July 22-29, 2026, found that 74% of Republicans approved of the Supreme Court, down from 84% in February 2025. Full Employment Federal Reserve Act of 2015 was sponsored by Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-13]. Latest action: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. PureSource News previously reported: Virginia Supreme Court Blocks Democratic Congressional Map. More than half of Americans disapprove of how the Supreme Court is doing its job, according to polling cited in an opinion piece. Almost half of Americans believe the Supreme Court is ruling on President Trump’s policies based on ideology rather than the law, according to polling cited in an opinion piece. Supreme Court of the United States was established in 1789. The Supreme Court established a code of conduct in November 2023 with no external body to enforce it.

How Sources Differ

Gallup poll report, September 2025 stated that in September 2025, 79% of Republicans approved of the Supreme Court's performance, according to Gallup. The Marquette Law School Poll, conducted July 22-29, 2026, found that 74% of Republicans approved of the Supreme Court, down from 84% in February 2025. A Marquette Law School Poll released in August 2026 found that 63% of Republicans believe the Supreme Court rarely or never rules for President Trump. The Marquette Law School Poll, conducted July 22-29, 2026, found that 74% of Republicans approved of the Supreme Court, down from 84% in February 2025. The share of Republicans who believe the Supreme Court rarely or never rules for President Trump increased by eight percentage points from May 2026, when it was 55%. The Marquette Law School Poll, conducted July 22-29, 2026, found that 74% of Republicans approved of the Supreme Court, down from 84% in February 2025. A Marquette Law School Poll found that 74% of Republicans approve of the way the Supreme Court handles its job, compared to 22% of Democrats. The Marquette Law School Poll, conducted July 22-29, 2026, found that 74% of Republicans approved of the Supreme Court, down from 84% in February 2025. Chief Justice John Roberts' favorability rating among Republicans dropped from 32% to 29% between January and July 2026, according to the Marquette Law School Poll. The Marquette Law School Poll, conducted July 22-29, 2026, found that 74% of Republicans approved of the Supreme Court, down from 84% in February 2025. Data from the Marquette Law School Poll shows that the share of Republicans with a favorable view of Justice Amy Coney Barrett fell from 34% in January 2026 to 27% in July 2026. The Marquette Law School Poll, conducted July 22-29, 2026, found that 74% of Republicans approved of the Supreme Court, down from 84% in February 2025. A Marquette Law School Poll released in August 2026 found that 63% of Republicans believe the Supreme Court rarely or never rules for President Trump. Almost half of Americans believe the Supreme Court is ruling on President Trump’s policies based on ideology rather than the law, according to polling cited in an opinion piece. The share of Republicans who believe the Supreme Court rarely or never rules for President Trump increased by eight percentage points from May 2026, when it was 55%. Almost half of Americans believe the Supreme Court is ruling on President Trump’s policies based on ideology rather than the law, according to polling cited in an opinion piece.