Trump's Approval Rating Hits New Low Amid Concerns Over Economy, Iran War

President Donald Trump's approval rating hit a new low, particularly due to dissatisfaction around his handling of the economy and the war in Iran, according to new polls from New York Times (Lean Left bias) and Siena University as well as Reuters (Center) and Ipsos (Center). The poll results were covered by outlets across the political spectrum, with outlets on the right highlighting cost-of-living concerns growing within the Republican Party. 

The Details: The Reuters/Ipsos survey found Trump's approval rating at 31 percent, dropping one point from its previous low of 32 percent. New York Times/Siena results came in at a 36% approval rating, which was also a new low for their polling. Respondents to the New York Times' poll were particularly concerned with the economy, with 22 percent of respondents identifying the economy and the job market as the most important problem the US faces and 11 percent ranking inflation and the cost of living as the most important. Fifty-two percent of respondents in the Reuters poll ranked the cost of living as the most important issue.

For Context: A majority of likely voters said they preferred Democratic candidates over Republican candidates in the upcoming midterm elections in both polls. Both New York Times and Washington Examiner (Lean Right) wrote that these results could signify difficulty for Republicans in the midterms, with the Examiner calling the low approval rating a "troubling sign for Republicans competing in closely contested districts and Senate races."

How the Media Covered It: The Hill (Center) wrote that Trump and Republicans "are facing an uphill battle" in the midterms because of the economy and the unpopularity of the Iran war. Fox News (Right) ran its own survey and emphasized that "cost-of-living concerns weigh on [the] GOP," reporting that 53 percent of its respondents expect the economy to worsen next year. New York Times added that public opinions on Democrats have grown increasingly positive over the past two years, reporting that poll results have increased by 5 percentage points from 2024 to 2026 on questions asking which party is for the working class and which party can fix the problems facing average Americans.

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