President Donald Trump is facing a tough stretch as his approval rating sits at just 33 percent, the lowest point of his entire political career. A fresh Reuters/Ipsos poll that wrapped up on Monday shows Americans are deeply unhappy with how things are going, especially on the economy and the ongoing conflict with Iran. This number has held steady for three straight surveys and looks like a real problem for Republicans heading into the November midterms.
Voters are clearly more energized on the Democratic side. About 46 percent of Democrats say they feel very enthusiastic about voting this fall, while only 31 percent of Republicans share that same excitement. Independents are also leaning blue. If the congressional elections happened today, 36 percent of independents would back Democrats compared to just 22 percent choosing Republicans.
The biggest headaches for Trump remain the cost of living and the war. Gasoline prices jumped after the United States began bombing Iran back in February. Only 36 percent of Americans approve of the conflict. Recent missile exchanges and Iran’s disruption of a key oil shipping route have kept the pressure high. A full 71 percent of people, including four in ten Republicans, disapprove of how Trump is handling everyday expenses.
For the first time in roughly ten years, registered voters now say the Democratic Party has better ideas for the economy than the Republican Party. That shift has held steady for the past month. Trump’s early-term approval of 47 percent feels like a distant memory. His current number even sits below the lowest rating Joe Biden recorded during his time in office.
With slim majorities to defend in both chambers of Congress, Republicans face an uphill battle. Economic frustration and war fatigue are pushing more voters toward the Democrats. The poll of 1,167 adults carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. How Trump responds in the coming weeks could decide whether this low approval rating becomes a lasting liability for his party in November.
