Trump Approval Drops To The Lowest Of His Presidency As Iran War And Gas Prices Weigh On Voters

President Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen to 33%, the lowest level of his presidency, as concerns over the Iran war, higher gasoline prices and the economy weigh on voters ahead of November's midterm elections.

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 64% of Americans disapprove of Trump's performance in the White House. His approval rating declined from 35% in a survey conducted earlier this month and has now matched the previous low recorded during his first term in December 2017.

The poll also points to widespread skepticism over how quickly the U.S. conflict with Iran will end. 80% of respondents expect U.S. involvement in Iran to continue for an extended period. That includes 87% of Democrats and 71% of Republicans.

Just 16% believe the conflict is likely to end within a few weeks.

The findings come after Trump initially indicated that the conflict would last only weeks. The fighting has continued, while disruption to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz has contributed to higher energy prices.

Those higher prices have become an issue for American households and for Republican candidates preparing to defend the party's narrow congressional majorities in the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

Trump addressed the cost of the conflict during a rally in Garden City, New York, on Friday.

Reuters reported that the president told supporters paying "a tiny little bit more for your gasoline" was worth the cost of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, one of the reasons he has given for U.S. military action.

The latest polling indicates that many Americans remain unconvinced.

Only about one in five respondents said the war has been worth it. Among Republicans, roughly half said the conflict had been worth the cost.

The economy is also becoming a more difficult issue for the party. The survey found that 38% of voters believe Democrats have the better approach to managing the economy, compared with 35% who favor Republicans.

That follows Reuters/Ipsos polling earlier this month that showed Democrats moving ahead of Republicans on the economy for the first time in roughly a decade.

Democrats also hold an advantage when voters are asked which party is better positioned to deal with the cost of living.

Immigration, one of Trump's strongest issues since returning to the White House, has also become considerably closer.

Republicans still hold a narrow advantage, with 40% of registered voters saying the party has the better approach to immigration compared with 38% who favor Democrats.

The two-point gap is the smallest of Trump's second term. The change is particularly notable compared with January 2025, when Republicans held a 26-point advantage over Democrats on immigration.

Border crossings have fallen sharply during Trump's second term as his administration expanded immigration enforcement across the country. But the crackdown has faced increased scrutiny following deadly confrontations and a rise in the number of people held in immigration detention, including children.

The latest numbers come less than three months before voters decide control of Congress.

Republicans are defending a narrow majority in the House, while Democrats increasingly see an opportunity to compete for control of the Senate. The economy, cost of living and Iran conflict are likely to remain significant issues during the final months of campaigning.

Trump's overall approval numbers show the challenge facing Republicans.

When he returned to office in January 2025, just under half of Americans approved of his performance. That figure has now fallen to one-third of the country.

The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online over four days and surveyed 1,166 adults across the United States. It has a margin of error of about three percentage points in either direction.