Trump Approval Rating Falls to Lowest Level of Presidency, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

U.S. President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to the lowest level of his current presidency, while a large majority of Americans believe the U.S. war with Iran will continue for an extended period, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.

The four-day survey found that 33% of respondents approved of Trump’s performance, while 64% disapproved. His approval rating fell from 35% in a poll conducted earlier this month and matches the lowest level recorded during his previous presidency in December 2017.

Trump’s approval ratings have declined this year following his decision to launch strikes against Iran alongside U.S. ally Israel. The resulting conflict has disrupted a significant portion of global oil trade and pushed up gasoline prices in the United States, putting additional pressure on American households.

Trump had initially suggested that the conflict would last only a few weeks, but Iran has continued to resist U.S. military pressure while oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz remain heavily disrupted.

According to the poll, 80% of Americans believe U.S. involvement in Iran will continue for an extended period, including 87% of Democrats and 71% of Republicans. Only 16% believe the conflict is likely to end within a few weeks.

Americans Divided Over War

Only around one in five Americans believe the war with Iran has been worth the cost, while only about half of Republicans share that view.

Trump has defended higher gasoline prices as a necessary cost of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, one of his stated reasons for the military action.

The war and rising fuel prices are also creating political challenges for Republicans ahead of the November 3 congressional elections, with the party seeking to defend its narrow majority in the House of Representatives.

The poll found that 38% of voters believe Democrats would handle the economy better, compared with 35% who favour Republicans. Democrats were also viewed more favourably on managing the cost of living.

Republicans retained a narrow advantage on immigration, with 40% of registered voters preferring the Republican approach compared with 38% for Democrats. However, the two-point gap represents the smallest Republican lead on the issue during Trump’s current term.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online among 1,166 U.S. adults nationwide and has a margin of error of approximately three percentage points.

Source: Reuters