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President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to its lowest level of his current term, while a majority of Americans fear that the war between the United States and Iran will continue for a prolonged period.
The findings came from a Reuters/Ipsos poll that concluded on Monday. In the four-day survey, only 33pc of respondents said they approved of Trump’s performance in the White House, while 64% disapproved. In a poll completed earlier this month, Trump’s approval rating stood at 35pc. The latest figure is the lowest of his second term and matches the 33pc approval rating he recorded in December 2017, the lowest point of his first term.
When Trump returned to the White House for a second term in 2025, he had the support of just under half of the American public. But his popularity took a hit this year after he ordered U.S. forces to join Israel in attacks on Iran. The conflict has disrupted nearly one-fifth of global oil trade, driving up gasoline prices and putting additional pressure on American households. The situation is also raising concerns among Trump’s Republican allies, who are seeking to retain their majority in Congress in the November midterm elections.
During his election campaign, Trump promised to keep inflation under control and avoid getting involved in prolonged wars. Initially, he said the conflict with Iran would be over within weeks. But Iran has mounted strong resistance, and although the intensity of the fighting has declined, oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz remain heavily disrupted.
According to the Reuters/Ipsos poll, 80pc of Americans believe U.S. involvement in Iran will “last a long time.” That view was shared by 87pc of Democrats and 71pc of Republicans. Only 16pc of respondents believed the conflict was likely to end within a few weeks.
At a political rally in Garden City, New York, on Friday, Trump said Americans should accept paying slightly more for gasoline. He argued that the higher cost would be justified if it helped prevent what he called a “very wicked country” from acquiring nuclear weapons. He has cited this as one of the main reasons for the war against Iran. During the conflict, Trump has at times threatened further escalation, while at other times suggesting that a peace agreement could be reached soon.
However, only about one in five Americans in the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll said the war with Iran was worth fighting. Even among Republicans, only about half considered the war the right decision.
Concerns over the war and rising gasoline prices are also increasing uncertainty about whether Republicans can retain their narrow majority in the House of Representatives in the November 3 election. At the same time, Democrats are seeing a growing possibility of regaining control of the Senate.
Several Reuters/Ipsos polls conducted this month have shown that, for the first time in nearly a decade, voters trust Democrats more than Republicans to handle the economy. In the latest poll, 38pc of voters said Democrats would be better at managing the economy, compared with 35pc who favored Republicans. Voters also viewed Democrats as more capable of dealing with the rising cost of living.
