Trump approval rating hits new low as Iran war squeezes economy |
Trump approval rating hits new low as Iran war squeezes economy
President Trump’s approval numbers have slipped in recent weeks, hovering near the lowest levels of his second term, as Americans — including his conservative base — grow increasingly wary of a prolonged war in Iran that could portend trouble for the U.S. economy.
Recent polling from YouGov and The Economist has Trump’s approval rating down 4 percentage points since just before the U.S. struck Iran, falling from 39 percent in late February to 35 percent in the latest survey.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll similarly put Trump’s approval at 36 percent, down from 40 percent earlier this month, while a Fox News survey found the president’s disapproval rating at 59 percent, the highest level recorded in either of his terms.
The shift has coincided with declining support for Trump’s handling of the Iran war, which saw its sharpest drop yet this past week — as gas prices climbed to more than $4 for the first time since 2022 and the stock market tumbled to its lowest levels of the year.
Trump, who spoke to the public Wednesday night about the conflict, saw his polling on Iran start out at 39 percent in early March, before dropping to 36 percent for two weeks and then ticking down to 30 percent in the latest YouGov/Economist survey.
Geoffrey Skelley, chief elections analyst at Decision Desk HQ, said many concerns about the war are closely tied to views on the economy, which has long been one of Trump’s strongest issues.
“The long-term problem for Trump has been........