Trump approval at 33 percent, lowest of term, as Iran conflict drags

President Donald Trump's job approval has fallen to 33 percent in a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed Monday, the lowest mark of his second term and matching the bottom of his first term in December 2017. The four-day survey showed 64 percent disapproval, reflecting growing public frustration with the administration's handling of foreign policy and energy costs.

The decline follows U.S. strikes on Iran conducted alongside Israel. Those operations disrupted roughly one-fifth of global oil trade through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing gasoline prices higher and adding pressure on household budgets. Trump had campaigned on containing inflation and avoiding prolonged overseas engagements, yet the conflict has extended beyond initial projections of a few weeks. In the poll, 80 percent of respondents, including 87 percent of Democrats and 71 percent of Republicans, said they expect U.S. involvement to last an extended period. Only 16 percent anticipated a quick resolution.

The timing of the poll carries direct consequences for Republicans defending congressional majorities in the November midterms. Rising fuel prices have become a visible reminder of the trade-offs involved in the military operation, and analysts note that similar economic pressures have historically hurt the president's party in off-year elections. Trump addressed the issue at a rally in Garden City, New York, on Friday, arguing that a modest increase in gasoline costs was justified by the strategic objectives. Public responses in the survey suggest many voters remain unconvinced.

Separately, an Economist/YouGov poll released this week also placed Trump's approval at 33 percent, reinforcing the Reuters/Ipsos findings across different survey methods. The consistent reading has prompted renewed discussion among political scientists about the durability of Trump's support base. University of Virginia Center for Politics director Larry Sabato, speaking on The Jim Acosta Show, said recent events have solidified Trump's position at the bottom of historical presidential rankings compiled by scholars. Sabato argued that previous low-ranked presidents, including Warren Harding and Richard Nixon, operated within institutional guardrails that limited the scope of their actions, whereas Trump's combination of sustained low approval and policy outcomes stands apart.

The midterms now serve as the immediate test of whether the approval slide translates into seat losses. With roughly eighty days remaining, Democratic candidates are highlighting the cost-of-living effects of the Iran conflict while Republicans emphasize national security. The polls indicate that independents and a portion of Republican voters share concerns about the length and expense of the engagement, narrowing the margin for error for GOP candidates in competitive districts.

Data from both surveys show the erosion of support has been steady rather than sudden, tracking the progression from initial strikes to ongoing disruption in energy markets. The Reuters/Ipsos results also capture broad agreement across party lines that the conflict is unlikely to end quickly, suggesting the issue may continue to shape voter assessments through the fall campaign.