WASHINGTON — In what analysts are describing as a time-honored bipartisan ritual, new polling confirms that Americans once again strongly dislike their sitting president just in time for the midterm elections, continuing a tradition dating back at least several election cycles.

Political historians noted the striking similarities among President Trump’s underwater approval ratings and those of Presidents Biden, Obama, and Bush at the same point in their terms. “It’s really beautiful to see democracy in action,” said Dr. Hildegard Peever, director of the Center for Civic Disenchantment. “Every president, regardless of party, can count on being equally despised by the electorate at precisely the same moment in their term.”

Data analyst Chet Wimple from Pew Trustless Research Center described the statistical phenomenon as a kind of presidential trust cliff: “It reliably occurs in autumn of even-numbered years, right before voters get a chance to express their anger by voting for other people they’ll soon dislike equally.”

Sources inside the White House appeared unruffled by the low approval ratings. “This level of disappointment is expected — frankly, we’d worry if voters weren’t actively sighing at every presidential address,” said presidential spokesperson Lana Hiff. “It’s just how Americans celebrate the spirit of shared disillusionment.”

Experts predict that the cycle will endure, with future presidents likely to experience the same chronic national apathy. As Peever added, “It’s the one thing uniting the country: a deep, abiding sense that whoever’s in charge is probably doing it wrong.”