Trump approval sinks to 34%, term low, as Iran war pushes gas prices higher

President Donald Trump's approval rating fell to 34 percent — the lowest point of his current term — as rising gasoline prices tied to the U.S. conflict with Iran deepened public frustration over the cost of living, a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Monday showed.

The slide comes after Trump entered office in January 2025 with a 47 percent approval rating — a 13-point drop in roughly 15 months — and signals growing pressure on the administration ahead of midterm elections, with independents and even some Republicans souring on the president's economic stewardship.

The Reuters/Ipsos survey was conducted April 26 through 27 among 1,269 U.S. adults, with a margin of error of three percentage points. Trump's 34 percent approval is down from 36 percent in a prior Reuters/Ipsos survey taken April 15 through 20, and well below the 47 percent he recorded at the start of his second term.

Economic dissatisfaction drove much of the decline. Just 22 percent of respondents said they approved of Trump's handling of the cost of living, down from 25 percent in the previous poll, according to Reuters/Ipsos. The reading reflects broad anxiety over household expenses that has grown since the outbreak of hostilities with Iran.

Gasoline prices have climbed more than 40 percent since the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on Feb. 28, bringing the national average to $4.18 per gallon, according to Reuters/Ipsos. A ceasefire was agreed upon earlier this month, but Iran's continued threats have blocked oil shipments from the Persian Gulf. Only 34 percent of Americans said they supported the U.S. conflict with Iran, the poll found.

The Republican base has largely held, with 78 percent of GOP respondents still backing Trump, Reuters/Ipsos reported. But 41 percent of Republicans said they disapproved of the president's handling of the cost of living — a sign of strain within the party's coalition. Among independents, Democrats led Republicans 34 percent to 20 percent on congressional preference, a 14-point gap that could prove consequential in midterm races.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll covered 1,014 registered voters among the 1,269 total respondents. Trump's approval rating has fallen 13 percentage points since his January 2025 inauguration, according to the polling firm.