Lead
President Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen to near its lowest level since he returned to the White House, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll, as surging gasoline prices and the war with Iran erode support even among his own party. The four-day poll, which closed on Monday, showed 35% of Americans approved of Trump's job performance, down one percentage point from earlier this month and just above the 34% low point seen last month. Trump began his current term in January 2025 with a 47% approval rating.
The decline coincides with rising costs at the pump: the nationwide average US fuel price stood at $4.55 per gallon on Friday, according to AAA, up $1.35 from a year ago, as reported by The Guardian. The war with Iran, which began with US strikes in February, has sent gasoline prices roughly 50% higher, according to the Reuters/Ipsos data cited by the Jerusalem Post. With midterm elections approaching, Trump's Republican allies face the prospect of defending their congressional majorities amid voter discontent over the economy.
Coverage Comparison
The Guardian and the Jerusalem Post both report on Trump's falling approval, but they highlight different figures and angles. The Jerusalem Post, citing the Reuters/Ipsos poll, puts the approval at 35%. The Guardian, in a separate article, cites a New York Times/Siena poll showing approval at 37% — described as the lowest of his second term. The two outlets also differ on the fuel price: The Guardian cites $4.55 per gallon, while another Guardian article mentions $4.52, both from AAA data but at slightly different times.
Both outlets attribute the decline to the economic fallout of the Iran war, though The Guardian places greater emphasis on immigration policy. A Guardian report notes that two-thirds of Americans believe Trump is prioritizing his immigration crackdown at the expense of their economic wellbeing, with 68% of respondents saying the administration is too focused on mass deportations and not enough on affordability. That survey, from Morris Predictive Insights, also found that just one in five Americans approve of Trump's handling of the cost of living. The Jerusalem Post similarly reports that only one in five approve of his stewardship over the cost of living.
The Guardian also cites a Gallup poll showing confidence in the economy at a four-year low, with 49% rating current conditions as poor, while the Jerusalem Post focuses on Republican discontent, noting that 21% of Republicans now disapprove of Trump's performance, up from 5% at the start of his term.
Key Claims
- Approval rating: The Reuters/Ipsos poll shows 35% approval, down from 47% at the start of his term in January 2025. The New York Times/Siena poll shows 37%, described as the lowest of his second term.
- Economic disapproval: An estimated 64% of US voters disapprove of Trump's handling of the economy, according to the New York Times/Siena poll, as reported by The Guardian.
- Fuel prices: The nationwide average US fuel price stands at $4.55 per gallon, up $1.35 from a year ago, according to AAA data cited by The Guardian. Another Guardian report cites $4.52 per gallon, up from $3.18 a year ago.
- War impact: The war with Iran has sent gasoline prices about 50% higher, according to the Jerusalem Post's citation of the Reuters/Ipsos poll.
- Republican discontent: 21% of Republicans now disapprove of Trump's performance, up from 5% just after he took office in January 2025, according to the Reuters/Ipsos poll reported by the Jerusalem Post.
- Immigration vs. economy: 68% of respondents in a Morris Predictive Insights poll said Trump's administration is too focused on mass deportations and not enough on affordability issues, as reported by The Guardian.
- Cost of living: Only one in five Americans approve of Trump's handling of the cost of living, according to both The Guardian and the Jerusalem Post, citing different polls.