A striking new poll has laid bare how few Americans think Congress is performing well, coming in the wake of a run of scandals that has seen two representatives resign after sexual misconduct allegations.
The survey offers a grim snapshot of public confidence in Washington, arriving the same week news broke that President Donald Trump’s approval rating has dropped sharply in the aftermath of the war with Iran.
Trump hit his best approval figure of the current term shortly after his January 2025 inauguration, when it reached 47 percent.
However, the latest polling suggests that support has eroded significantly, with just 35 percent now approving of how he is handling the job.
The downturn has largely been linked to the conflict, though the president has also faced backlash from parts of his own base after sharing an image that appeared to portray him in a Christ-like way.
The post reportedly angered many Christian conservatives, leading the president to release a statement insisting he had meant to present himself as a doctor rather than Jesus.
But dissatisfaction doesn’t appear limited to the White House. The same polling indicates Congress is viewed just as unfavorably by the public.
Gallup’s findings suggest that belief in the 1969 moon landing being faked is now more common than approval of Congress’s performance.
Specifically, 12 percent of respondents said they think the Apollo 11 landing wasn’t real, while only 10 percent said they approve of the job Congress is doing—matching the share who say they believe the Earth is flat.
Reacting to the numbers, CNN data analyst Harry Enten said: “You know, I just want to say to Congress, stand up and applaud.
“You’re usually hated, but usually not this hated. You’re reaching, or at least tying, record highs in terms of disapproval.”
The bleak assessment follows multiple disruptive government shutdowns, alongside a recent wave of sexual misconduct claims involving several lawmakers.
In the past month alone, Rep. Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, and Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican, left Congress under a cloud after unsettling allegations of a sexual nature.
Meanwhile, Rep. Cory Mills, a Florida Republican, is reportedly facing an active House Ethics investigation tied to similar allegations.
The poll also lands against the backdrop of historically low legislative productivity in 2025, marking a record slump in output for the first year of a presidency.