WASHINGTON, United States, Feb 12, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Famed US public opinion pollster Gallup will stop tracking approval ratings of political leaders, ending a decades-long practice, Washington newspaper The Hill reported Wednesday.

The shift comes as US President Donald Trump has threatened pollsters, writing on his Truth Social platform last month: "Fake and Fraudulent Polling should be, virtually, a criminal offense."

However, The Hill reported the polling agency -- which has been tracking public approval of US presidents since the 1930s -- said the move was "part of a broader, ongoing effort to align all of Gallup's public work with its mission."

When asked whether the White House or any member of the Trump administration gave any input for the shift, a spokesperson told the outlet: "This is a strategic shift solely based on Gallup's research goals and priorities."

"Our commitment is to long-term, methodologically sound research on issues and conditions that shape people's lives," the spokesperson said.

Gallup did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.

Gallup polling shows Trump's approval rating has been in steady decline since the start of his second term last January, dropping from 47 percent approval at his inauguration down to 36 percent as of December 1, 2025 -- the last data released by the pollster.

The latest figure is among the lowest presidential approval ratings recorded by the esteemed polling agency since it began collecting data.