President Joe Biden’s approval ratings are continuing to fall in the wake of the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
A new Gallup poll released on Tuesday found that Biden’s approval rating has dropped to 43%, down from 49% in August. Meanwhile, 53% disapprove of his job performance, up from 48% just a month ago.
As Gallup notes, “The latest drop in Biden’s job approval score is the second significant decline since June. Biden’s honeymoon ratings near 55% first faltered in July, falling to 50% amid rising COVID-19 cases caused largely by the delta variant. In Gallup’s Aug. 2-17 poll, Biden’s rating was essentially unchanged, at 49%.”
The September poll was conducted after the U.S. wrapped up its withdrawal from Afghanistan and evacuation of more than 120,000 people from the country.
While the poll was being conducted, Biden announced new COVID-19 vaccine requirements.
According to Gallup, the biggest shift in support for the president occurred among independent voters. In January, his approval rating among independents was at its highest point at 61%. But over the eight months of his presidency, it has fallen to a record low of 37% in September.
At this point in his presidency, his approval rating among independents is lower than three of the past four most recent presidents. Only former President Donald Trump’s approval rating in the bloc was lower at this point in his presidency.
Vice Kamala Harris’ approval rating in the poll was 49%, six points higher than Biden’s.
Finally, Gallup noted, “Biden’s latest approval rating further cements the fact that the honeymoon phase of his presidency is behind him. Political independents, who were part of the coalition that helped him defeat Trump in 2020, now largely disapprove of the job he is doing as president.”
“Though Americans were generally supportive of the U.S. withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, the chaotic and deadly way in which it was executed has played into the decrease in Biden’s approval rating. So, too, has the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” it added.
The poll also comes as the COVID-19 pandemic surged around the country at a rate not seen since earlier this year.
The poll was conducted Sept. 1-17 and surveyed 1,005 adults.