Donald Trump’s approval ratings drop amid war with Iran, soaring fuel prices and rising cost of living

President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to the lowest level of his term, a new Reuters poll shows, as Americans become increasingly dissatisfied with the rising cost of living and the ongoing conflict with Iran.The four-day survey, completed on Monday, found 34% of Americans approve of Trump’s performance in the White House. That’s down from 36% in a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted between April 15 and 20.Most of the responses to the latest survey were collected Saturday night at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, where Trump is expected to speak. A gunman was stopped before entering the lobby where the President of the United States was dining. Federal prosecutors have charged the accused gunman with attempting to assassinate the president. Trump’s approval rating has declined steadily since he returned to office in January 2025, when 47% of Americans approved of his performance.

Polls show a sharp decline in support linked to economic concerns. Only 22% of respondents approved of Trump’s handling of the cost of living, down from 25% in the previous survey.Public dissatisfaction increased along with rising fuel prices after the United States and Israel took military action against Iran on February 28. The conflict sent global oil prices soaring.U.S. gasoline prices have risen more than 40% since the strike began, to about $4.18 a gallon, with nearly a fifth of global oil trade disrupted. Rising prices are adding to pressures on American households and raising concerns within Trump’s Republican Party ahead of November’s midterm elections.The poll also found that 78% of Republicans still support Trump overall. However, 41% of Republicans disapprove of his handling of the cost of living.In a hypothetical congressional vote, among independent voters, Democrats lead by 14 points, with support at 34 percent, compared with 20 percent for Republicans. A quarter of independents said they were undecided.

War with Iran and energy issues

The U.S.-Iran conflict has eased following a ceasefire earlier this month, but ongoing tensions continue to disrupt oil shipments in the Persian Gulf. This further increases pressure on global energy supplies as reserves decline.Only 34% of Americans say they approve of the way the United States is handling the conflict with Iran, down from 36% in mid-April and 38% in mid-March.Trump campaigned on a promise to lower prices after years of high inflation under former President Joe Biden. However, his current economic approval rating of 27% is lower than at any point in his first term and lower than Biden’s lowest economic approval rating on record.