President Donald Trump's approval rating recently dropped to its lowest point since his return to the White House. A new Reuters/Ipsos poll attributes this decline to surging fuel prices and widespread public disapproval of the ongoing war in Iran.
The four-day survey, completed on Monday, revealed that only 36% of Americans approve of Trump's job performance, a drop from 40% in a similar poll conducted just last week.
Public sentiment regarding Trump's economic stewardship and handling of living costs has soured significantly. Gasoline prices have spiked since the U.S. and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran on February 28. Consequently, only 25% of respondents approve of Trump's approach to the cost of living, a central issue of his 2024 presidential campaign.
A mere 29% of the country approves of his overall economic management. This marks the lowest economic rating across either of Trump's administrations and falls below any equivalent rating held by his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden. Voter anxiety over the economy and rising living costs heavily contributed to Biden's electoral defeat, with Trump previously campaigning on promises to revitalize the American economy.
Political analysts suggest the poll highlights substantial public opposition facing the president. "It's important that people know that the president feels their pain and that help is on the way," said Amanda Makki, a Republican political strategist and lawyer.
War Concerns Weigh
Despite the overall decline, Trump's standing within the Republican Party remains relatively stable. Roughly one in five Republicans disapprove of his overall White House performance, a slight shift from one in seven last week. However, the percentage of Republicans dissatisfied with his handling of living costs increased to 34%, up from 27%.
Trump's overall approval rating stood at 47% during his initial days in office and had hovered around 40% since last summer. The current 36% rating remains slightly above the 33% low point of his first administration and marginally higher than Biden's lowest rating of 35%.
The ongoing war in Iran appears to be eroding support for a president who originally campaigned on avoiding "stupid wars." The survey indicates that 35% of Americans approve of the U.S. strikes on Iran, down from 37% last week, while 61% disapprove, an increase from 59%.
Earlier polls conducted immediately following the initial U.S. and Israeli strikes allowed respondents to express uncertainty as they learned about the developing situation. A survey from February 28 to March 1 found that 27% approved of the strikes, 43% disapproved, and 29% remained unsure.
Recent surveys removed the unsure option, although 5% of respondents in the latest poll declined to share their views on the conflict.
More Troops to the Region
According to the latest data, 46% of respondents believe the Iran war will make the U.S. less safe in the long run. Only 26% feel it will increase national security, while the remainder anticipate little effect either way.
Although Trump recently suggested the conflict could soon de-escalate, Iran disputed his claims of ongoing negotiations. Furthermore, Reuters reported on Tuesday that Washington plans to deploy thousands of additional soldiers to the Middle East.
The average price of gasoline in the U.S. has surged by approximately one dollar per gallon since the conflict began, heavily restricting Middle Eastern oil shipments globally. Economic experts warn that prolonged high fuel prices will inevitably impact the broader economy.
The poll reveals that 63% of Americans already consider the U.S. economy to be "somewhat weak" or "very weak." This includes 40% of Republicans, 66% of independents, and 84% of Democrats.
"This provides a huge opportunity for Democrats to make major strides in the midterms by focusing on issues that are traditionally more Republican issues, like national security, the economy and immigration," noted Doug Farrar, a Democratic strategist.
However, Trump's declining popularity has not translated into a surge of support for Democrats aiming to break Republican control of Congress in the November midterm elections. The poll indicates that 38% of registered voters still view Republicans as better economic stewards, compared to 34% who prefer Democrats.
Voters also favored Republicans on issues of immigration and crime, while Democrats maintained an advantage regarding healthcare and women's rights.
Conducted online nationwide, the poll gathered responses from 1,272 U.S. adults and carries a margin of error of 3 percentage points.