President Donald Trump’s approval rating remains mired at the lowest point of his political career, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll, as broad dissatisfaction with the war in Iran and the administration’s handling of the economy threatens to drag down Republicans in the November 3 midterm elections.
Just 33% of Americans approve of the job Trump is doing in the White House, marking the third consecutive Reuters/Ipsos survey to show the president with the same historically weak level of support. The figure is well below the 47% approval he enjoyed early in his current term and even trails the 35% low point hit by his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, in October 2024.
Democratic Enthusiasm Outpaces Republicans
The poll underscores a widening enthusiasm gap that could prove costly for Republicans defending slim congressional majorities. Among self-identified Democrats, 46% said they are “very enthusiastic” about voting in November, compared to just 31% of Republicans.
Independents are also tilting toward Democrats. Asked which party they would support if the congressional elections were held today, 36% of independents picked Democrats, while only 22% chose Republicans.
Inflation and War Fuel Discontent
Trump, like Biden before him, has been dogged by persistent voter anger over high inflation. Gasoline prices have surged since Trump ordered U.S. forces to begin bombing Iran in February, and the poll found that just 36% of Americans approve of the war.
The conflict has seen periodic lulls but has recently escalated with traded missile strikes. Since the war began, Iran has largely blocked a major transit point for global oil trade, contributing to higher energy costs at home.
Economic discontent is stark: 71% of Americans—including four in 10 Republicans—disapprove of Trump’s handling of the cost of living. For the first time in about a decade, registered voters in the Reuters/Ipsos poll say the Democratic Party has better ideas for the economy than the Republican Party.
A Political Weight on the GOP
Trump’s sagging popularity is increasingly viewed as a liability for his party. With Republicans defending thin majorities in both chambers of Congress, the president’s low approval rating and the public’s sour mood on the economy and foreign policy could reshape the electoral landscape.
The four-day Reuters/Ipsos poll surveyed 1,167 U.S. adults nationwide and had a margin of error of 3 percentage points in either direction.
