Trump’s Iran war, handling of economy and cost of living earn poor ratings in new poll | Today’s news
A new New York Times/Siena College poll suggests U.S. President Donald Trump faces growing political challenges as voter discontent rises over the war with Iran, the economy and the cost of living.
The poll found that Trump’s approval rating fell to a second election low, while Democrats gained an early advantage ahead of the 2026 election.
What does the new poll show?
The poll, conducted between May 11 and May 15 among 1,507 registered voters nationwide, found Trump’s approval rating at 37%.
That’s the lowest level recorded during his second term in the New York Times/Siena polls.
Nearly two-thirds of voters said Trump made a bad decision in going to war with Iran.
Less than one-quarter of respondents believed the conflict was worth the financial and political costs.
The survey also showed growing public frustration with inflation, gasoline prices and economic uncertainty.
Why is the Iran war unpopular?
The poll suggests that many Americans are increasingly worried about the financial and geopolitical consequences of the conflict.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the crisis contributed to a rise in global energy prices, with average US gasoline prices reportedly climbing above $4.50 a gallon.
-64% of voters disapproved of Trump’s handling of the economy
-52% opposed further military action if diplomacy with Iran fails
-63% said presidents should not initiate military action without congressional approval
Independent voters showed particularly strong opposition to the war. About three-quarters of independents said military action against Iran was the wrong decision.
How are independent voters responding?
Independent voters appear to be moving sharply away from Trump.
-69% of independents disapproved of Trump’s job performance
-47% said Trump’s policies have hurt them personally
This represents a noticeable increase from earlier surveys conducted in January and autumn 2025.
What does the survey say about the economy?
Economic anxiety has emerged as one of the White House’s biggest problems.
Nearly half of voters called the economy “bad,” reflecting a sharp increase since January.
Only 28% of respondents said Trump is handling the cost of living well.
Consumer confidence, household debt levels and inflation concerns are said to have worsened in recent weeks.
Even among Republicans, voters appeared divided on the economy, with many rating conditions only as “fair” or “poor.”
Are Republicans Still Supporting Trump?
Despite broader public criticism, Republican voters largely continue to support Trump and the Iran war.
-70% of Republicans favor resuming military operations if talks with Iran fail
-73% believed that war would successfully eliminate Iran’s nuclear program
Trump’s strongest issue remains immigration, where his approval rating has held relatively steady at 41%.
Still, the poll showed declining optimism even among Republican voters about the direction of the country and the economy.
What does this mean for the 2026 medium term?
The poll suggests Democrats currently have an early lead ahead of the 2026 congressional elections.
In a hypothetical half-time match:
-50% of registered voters said they would support Democratic candidates
-39% said they would support Republicans
Democrats also held an 18-point lead among independent voters.
In addition, Democratic voters appeared to be more energized, with respondents more likely to say they were “almost certain” they would vote.
Do Democrats have a political advantage?
Although the Democrats are currently leading the Republican polls, the poll also showed dissatisfaction within the Democratic Party itself.
Only 26% of voters said they were satisfied with Democrats overall.
About 44% of Democratic voters said they were dissatisfied with their own party.
The findings suggest that while Republicans face growing political risks associated with the Iran conflict and economic pressures, Democrats still face challenges in improving their public image.
How did the survey go?
The New York Times/Siena College poll polled 1,507 registered voters nationwide between May 11 and May 15, 2026.
The survey was conducted in English and Spanish using live telephone interviews.
The margin of error was plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.
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