Trump’s approval rating is just 33% — but these 3 other poll numbers may worry Republicans more | Today’s news
US President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to a new low of 33%, with 66% of Americans disapproving of his job performance, according to a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll released on October 18. But three other survey findings could pose additional challenges for Republicans ahead of the Nov. 3 election: general dissatisfaction with opposition leadership on housing issues and housing costs. US military action against Iran.
The poll found that Trump’s approval rating fell from 37% in April and July outlet polls. More than half of the respondents, i.e. 52%, said that they strongly disagreed with his performance.
Among likely voters, 38% approved of Trump’s performance, while 62% disapproved. The results come just over two weeks before midterm elections that will test Republican support and the strength of the party’s agenda.
1. 71% say gasoline is unaffordable as concerns about the cost of living increase
The first red flag for Republicans is the level of public dissatisfaction with household spending.
About three in four Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of inflation and the cost of living, the poll found. Nearly half of respondents, 48%, said they were worse off financially than when Trump returned to office in 2025.
Of particular note were the findings on the availability of gasoline. In February, before Trump went to war with Iran, 71% of respondents said gasoline was affordable. In the latest survey, the proportion of petrol being unaffordable has increased to 71%.
The survey account linked the shift to wartime disruptions to supplies and shipping, pushing up gasoline and diesel prices.
Concerns went beyond fuel. Fewer than four in 10 respondents thought dining was affordable.
2. Democrats lead by eight points in the battle for control of the House
A second potential problem for Republicans is the Democrats’ advantage in preferences in Congress, according to polling.
Democrats held an eight-point lead over Republicans among registered voters when respondents were asked which party they preferred to control the House of Representatives.
The poll also found that 58% of registered voters would vote for a Democrat, compared to 39% who would vote for a Republican to act as a check on the Trump White House.
Democrats were also seen as more trustworthy on the economy, leading Republicans by 40% to 33%.
However, the poll did not show Democrats gaining control of the House. The results reflect voter preferences at the time of the poll, rather than predicting the final outcome of the election.
3. 65% say military action against Iran was a mistake
The third red flag concerns Trump’s foreign policy, particularly the war with Iran.
A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found that 65% of respondents see military action against Iran as a mistake. Another 68% disapproved of Trump’s dealings with US allies.
Other numbers that could concern Republicans
The poll highlighted broader concerns about Trump’s behavior and the image of the Republican Party.
– 72% said the country is headed in the wrong direction.
– 66% said Trump is using the presidency to enrich himself.
– 66% considered Trump too extreme.
– 55% thought the Republican Party was too extreme, compared to 36% who said the same about Democrats.
– 63% had an unfavorable view of the Republican Party, compared to 54% who had an unfavorable view of the Democratic Party.
The poll also found signs of dissatisfaction among some voters who supported Trump in 2024. Among those voters, 23% disapproved of his overall performance, 31% disapproved of his handling of the economy, and 38% disapproved of his handling of inflation.
The Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll was conducted Oct. 9-13 among 2,545 US adults. The margin of error was plus or minus two percentage points for all adults and plus or minus 2.2 percentage points for registered and likely voters.
Read also | How Zelensky decided to take a risk and publicly confront Trump
