Trump approval dips to record low amid Iran war, inflation woes: Poll

Lead

President Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen to the lowest levels of his term, according to a series of new polls, as Americans express deep dissatisfaction with his handling of the economy, the cost of living, and the ongoing war with Iran. A Washington Post-ABC-Ipsos poll released on Friday found Trump's disapproval rating at 62%, the highest of his two terms in office, while a separate Reuters/Ipsos poll put his approval at 34% — the lowest since he returned to the White House.

The polls, conducted over the past two weeks, paint a picture of a president facing mounting public discontent just six months before the November midterm elections, with voters citing soaring energy prices and the human and economic toll of the conflict with Iran as key concerns.

Coverage Comparison

Across six news outlets — Al Jazeera, The Guardian, the Jerusalem Post, and Russia's TASS — the reporting converges on a central theme: Trump's approval ratings are near or at record lows, driven by economic anxiety and the war in Iran. The Washington Post-ABC-Ipsos poll, cited by multiple sources, shows 62% disapproval and a 37% approval rating. A Reuters/Ipsos poll, reported by Al Jazeera and the Jerusalem Post, shows approval at 34%, slightly lower than the Post poll, reflecting differences in polling methodology and timing.

The Guardian, citing the same Washington Post poll, emphasizes the record-high disapproval, noting that Trump's approval among Republicans has slipped from 53% to 45% in the 'strongly approve' category. Al Jazeera's reporting focuses on the war's economic impact, noting that 44% of respondents have cut back on driving due to higher gas prices. The Jerusalem Post, drawing on a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed May 11, adds a nuance: Trump's approval ticked up two points from the late April low, though it remains near his lowest-ever rating.

TASS, the Russian state news agency, reports the Washington Post poll's finding that 76% of Americans are unhappy with the high cost of living, and notes that 45% approve of Trump's immigration policy — a figure that aligns with other outlets' reporting on immigration as his strongest issue.

Key Claims

• Approval ratings: Trump's overall approval is in the mid-30s across multiple polls — 37% per the Washington Post-ABC-Ipsos poll, 34% per the Reuters/Ipsos poll, and 33% per an AP-NORC poll, as reported by The Guardian. Disapproval stands at 62%, according to the Washington Post poll, which multiple outlets call a record high for his two terms.
• Cost of living: Only 22-23% of Americans approve of Trump's handling of the cost of living, according to Reuters/Ipsos and AP-NORC polls cited by Al Jazeera and The Guardian. A Washington Post-ABC-Ipsos poll found 76% of respondents complained about the high cost of living.
• War with Iran: A Washington Post-ABC-Ipsos poll found 61% of respondents believe the use of military force against Iran was a mistake, with just 36% calling it the right decision. A Reuters/Ipsos poll, reported by the Jerusalem Post, found 66% of Americans say Trump has not clearly explained the goals of US military involvement in Iran.
• Economic impact: 63% of Americans say their household's personal financial situation has been hurt by recent gas price increases, up from 55% in a March poll, according to the Jerusalem Post. Al Jazeera reports that 44% of respondents have cut back on driving due to higher gas prices, with the figure rising to 56% for those earning under $50,000 a year.

Perspectives

The war's toll: Al Jazeera's coverage emphasizes the human and economic cost of the conflict, noting that the war has killed thousands across the Middle East and sent global energy prices surging. The outlet also reports that 46% of respondents say the decision to attack Iran was inconsistent with Trump's campaign promise to avoid unnecessary foreign wars.

Political fallout: The Guardian highlights the record-high disapproval as a warning sign for Republicans defending their narrow House majority and Senate seats in the midterms. The outlet notes that Trump's approval among independents has slipped to 25%, and that the share of Republicans who strongly approve has dropped.

A slight uptick: The Jerusalem Post, citing a Reuters/Ipsos poll, notes that Trump's approval ticked up to 36% in early May from 34% in late April, though it remains near his lowest-ever rating. This slight improvement is not echoed in the Washington Post poll, which was conducted later in April.

Immigration as a relative strength: Despite overall low approval, multiple sources note that Trump's handling of immigration remains his strongest issue, with 40-45% approval. The Washington Post-ABC-Ipsos poll found 45% approval for his border policies, though a Reuters/Ipsos poll cited by The Guardian shows support for his deportation policies has slipped from 50% after his inauguration to 40% now.