How Low Can Donald Trump’s Approval Rating Go? |
How Low Can Donald Trump’s Approval Rating Go?
His war on Iran is tanking the markets and spiking gas prices—and Americans aren’t happy about it. Some polls show his popularity falling to record lows, raising the question of how much further it could fall.
Since the launch of his political career more than a decade ago, President Donald Trump has always been sensitive to his approval ratings. His popularity in office has never topped 50 percent, a first for a modern president, but there has also consistently been a clear floor: Despite numerous scandals and unpopular political positions, Trump’s support has remained above 35 percent in most polls—and more often than not, above 40 percent—throughout his first and second terms.
But as Trump’s war on Iran lumbers on, dragging down the stock market and hiking gas prices, several recent polls show Trump’s approval rating dropping to 35 percent or even lower. How much further could it fall? And how much could it aid Democrats’ efforts to retake Congress in November?
Trump was elected in 2024 in part because of his promises to ease inflation and lower prices, but a recent poll by CNN found that Americans have a record low approval rating for his handling of the economy. Approval of his handling of immigration, which also helped propel him to the Oval Office for a second time, is also significantly lower than it was in January of last year.
Much of this change is driven by increased disapproval from independent voters, particularly with regard to Iran. But Trump remains popular among his own party, which means........