Trump Approval Rating Ties All-Time Low: A Snapshot of Turned-Off Voters

Approval Rating Ties Lowest Point

President Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen to 33 percent, tying his all-time low, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted August 14-17. The survey of 1,166 U.S. adults, with a margin of error of about 3 percentage points, found 64 percent disapproved of his performance. The rating matches the low recorded in December 2017 during his first term, as reported by Newsweek.

The poll comes amid the ongoing war with Iran, which began in late February, and rising gas prices. Eight in 10 respondents said they were concerned the conflict would last a "long time," with 87 percent of Democrats and 71 percent of Republicans sharing that worry.

Erosion Among Key Voter Groups

Several demographic groups that helped Trump win the previous election are showing declining support. According to an Economist/YouGov poll released August 11, Trump's net approval ratings are at their lowest among women (-36), white Americans (-19), and college graduates (-42).

Independents have also drifted away: approval among this group dropped to 18 percent in an August 7-10 Economist/YouGov poll, down from 32 percent at the start of the year. Among Hispanic men, who backed Trump by 10 points in the last election, his net approval now stands at -41, according to CNN/SSRS polling.

Republican support is divided. Non-MAGA Republicans—roughly 30 percent of the GOP—began Trump's second term with near-universal approval at 90 percent, but that figure has fallen to 51 percent. In contrast, 92 percent of MAGA Republicans still approve of his job performance, per the same August 7-10 Economist/YouGov poll.

Other polls show slippage in groups traditionally considered Trump strongholds. A July 17-20 Fox News poll found rural voters' approval at 44 percent, down 7 points from June. Among white voters without college degrees, a July Economist/YouGov poll showed 43 percent approve and 52 percent disapprove. Gen X voters aged 45-64 give Trump a 33 percent approval and 63 percent disapproval rating, according to a July 25-27 Economist/YouGov survey.

War and Gas Prices Drive Concerns

The decline is closely tied to economic anxieties fueled by the war and its effect on fuel costs. Trump supporter Patrick Casale, senior adviser to Nevada GOP Chairman Michael McDonald, said the drop is not surprising. Casale said Trump "took a very successful first year and he's really messed up" regarding the war and gas prices, and called the next two weeks crucial. Without ending the war, he said, the midterm outcome is "up in the air," though "Democrats are so bad."

Gas prices have climbed back above $4 per gallon, with the national average at $4.06, according to AAA and GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan. De Haan attributed the increase to the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries. The U.S.-Iran ceasefire is set to expire Monday amid stalled negotiations, raising the possibility of further escalation.

A June 8 Reuters/Ipsos poll already showed 70 percent of Americans disapproved of Trump's handling of the cost of living, and 59 percent expected gas prices to worsen—concerns that appear to be materializing.