US President Donald Trump’s approval rating fell to 38%, the lowest level since he returned to office, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in the four days to Monday (Nov 17). The decline comes as Americans express dissatisfaction with his handling of the cost of living and the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
Dissatisfaction with the cost of living
Only 26% of Americans approve of Trump’s efforts to control the cost of living, down from 29% in early November.
Even among Republicans, roughly one-third disapprove of Trump’s performance on the issue. His typically economic approach to raising import taxes has been criticized by economists for contributing to higher prices, prompting Trump last week to cut tariffs on staples such as coffee, beef and bananas.
The Epstein controversy weighs on popularity
Trump’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case is another major factor driving down his approval rating. Only 20% of Americans approve of his approach, including 44% of Republicans. The poll also shows that 70% of respondents believe the government is withholding information about Epstein’s clients, including 87% of Democrats and 60% of Republicans.
The timing comes as the Republican-controlled House votes on a bill to release Justice Department files on Epstein — legislation that Trump has opposed for months but now says he will sign if it passes the Senate.
Historical comparisons
Trump’s 38% approval rating has fallen nine points since January, near the lowest level recorded during his first term and comparable to the lows of former President Joe Biden, whose approval rating fell to 35%.
While Trump maintains strong support in his party, his declining popularity on the economy and accountability could make Republicans more vulnerable in the upcoming congressional elections. Despite this, voters continue to perceive the Republican Party under Trump as having a better approach to economic policy compared to the Democrats.
Survey methodology
The Reuters/Ipsos survey polled 1,017 US adults online nationwide and has a margin of error of about ±3 percentage points.
