Trump’s approval rating is stuck near an all-time low, and the war in Iran is making it worse | Today’s news
A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows 35% of Americans approve of Donald Trump’s performance, with nearly six in 10 expecting fuel costs to worsen next year as the war in Iran continues to weigh on household budgets.
Donald Trump’s approval rating remains near the lowest levels of his political career, with a majority of Americans expecting gasoline prices to continue to rise following the US war with Iran, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Monday.
Trump’s approval rating remains at 35%, just above the current low
The poll showed 35% of respondents approved of Trump’s performance in the White House, unchanged from a previous Reuters/Ipsos poll in mid-May. That figure is just above the lowest approval rating of his current term, which was 34% in an April Reuters/Ipsos poll, and is also close to his first low of 33% recorded in December 2017.
The Republican president has faced lingering public discontent over his decision to go to war with Iran, a conflict that has sent gasoline prices soaring and tested his standing with voters who elected him largely on economic promises.
Nearly six in ten Americans expect US gas prices to worsen
Despite a modest easing in pump prices in recent weeks, led by expectations that the Iran conflict may be nearing resolution, public pessimism about fuel prices remains entrenched. About 59% of respondents said they expect U.S. gasoline prices to worsen over the next year, while only 17% believe they will improve. The remaining respondents said they were unsure or expected prices to remain at current levels.
Trump ordered military strikes on Iran on February 28 alongside US ally Israel. Iran responded with counterattacks that largely halted shipping through the narrow strait, which previously carried a fifth of the world’s oil trade. The pace of attacks and counter-attacks has slowed since April, but peace talks have yet to lead to a lasting agreement.
Trump’s cost of living fell below Biden’s final rating
Survey data reveal particular weaknesses in economic management. Only 22% of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the cost of living for American households, compared to 70% who disapprove.
This number represents a significant deterioration in public opinion on the issue compared to Trump’s predecessor. Former President Joe Biden ended his term with a 29% approval rating on the cost of living and a 63% disapproval rating, meaning Americans are now more dissatisfied with Trump’s economic stewardship than they were with Biden at his lowest point.
Biden spent much of his presidency battling elevated inflation, an issue that ultimately hurt his party in the 2024 presidential election and helped Trump get past Democrat Kamala Harris. Trump campaigned explicitly on promises to reduce inflation, so persistently high fuel prices have become a particularly damaging political liability as his party looks ahead to November’s midterm elections.
Only one in three Americans support US attacks on Iran
Public support for the military campaign itself is limited. About 36% of Americans say they approve of US attacks on Iran. A smaller proportion, 25%, said the benefits of the strikes were worth the costs.
Strikes and their economic consequences reshaped the political landscape before the midterm period. Registered voters said they would choose Democrats over Republicans 41% to 37% if congressional elections were held today. While polls last year showed voters trusting Republicans more to manage the economy, that advantage has recently disappeared. In the latest poll, 36% of voters said Democrats have a better plan for the economy, compared with 37% of voters who chose Republicans, a margin that is within the poll’s margin of error.
About the Reuters/Ipsos survey
The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online across the United States over six days and collected responses from 4,531 US adults. It has a margin of error of 2 percentage points.
