Trump’s approval rating falls to career low in new poll
Public support for President Donald Trump has fallen to 32 percent—the lowest mark of his political career—as members of his own Republican party express growing discontent with his handling of the cost of living amid the unpopular war in Iran, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll has revealed.
The four-day survey, which concluded on Sunday, found that 73 percent of Republicans approved of Trump's overall performance in office. This represents a drop from the 82 percent rating recorded in a Reuters/Ipsos poll the previous week, when his overall approval stood at 35 percent.
Trump re-entered the White House in January 2025 after campaigning on pledges to lower inflation and bring foreign wars to an end. In a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted immediately following his swearing-in ceremony, his approval rating was recorded at 47 percent.
A mere 17 percent of respondents in the latest poll voiced approval for his handling of the cost of living. The issue remains the primary driver for voters heading into the November 3 midterm elections, in which Trump's fellow Republicans must defend narrow majorities across both houses of Congress.
Frustration among Republicans concerning economic conditions has mounted since Trump launched the war against Iran in February, an action that led to sharp increases in gasoline and diesel prices. For the first time, Republicans who disapprove of his management of the cost of living outnumber those who approve, by 51 percent to 44 percent.
This approval rating is lower than any figure recorded for his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, whose presidency was likewise impacted by elevated inflation and who ultimately ended his campaign for reelection after a difficult debate performance highlighted concerns over his age.
The Reuters/Ipsos survey showed that registered voters favored Democrats over Republicans by 43 percent to 35 percent when asked about their voting intentions for the midterms. The eight-point lead marks the widest margin for Democrats in Reuters/Ipsos polling so far this year. Ceding control of either chamber of Congress could make it far more difficult for Trump to execute his agenda in the final two years of his term.
These findings on legislative voting intentions provide an overarching picture of which political party Americans prefer to see leading Congress, though the figures do not reflect all the local dynamics across individual state and district races that dictate control of the Senate and House of Representatives.
Immigration remains a strong area for Trump among his base, with 79 percent of Republicans endorsing his actions. However, just 36 percent of Americans overall support his approach to the issue, compared to 55 percent who disapprove. Some Republican lawmakers have warned that aggressive deportation efforts risk distancing voters with family ties to recent immigrants, including Hispanic voters.
Only 24 percent of the general public supports his handling of the conflict involving Iran.
The online Reuters/Ipsos poll gathered responses from 1,277 adults across the United States and has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
Trump’s approval rating was even lower in another poll conducted by American Research Group from Sept. 16-20 among 1,100 American adults. That survey showed the president with a 29% overall approval rating.
"This poll is an outlier, as others are not as bleak for the president, but overall it's pretty clear that Trump's numbers are worse now than they were eight years ago," Kyle Kondik with the University of Virginia's Center for Politics told Newsweek. "Dissatisfaction with the economy/inflation is probably the biggest reason why."
