President Donald Trump’s approval rating is hovering around 37 to 40 percent as of July 13, 2026, declining amid economic concerns and the ongoing Iran conflict, according to the latest polling data from major national surveys including AP-NORC, Quinnipiac University, and The Economist/YouGov.
Trump’s approval on the economy has slumped significantly, dropping to 30 percent in April from 38 percent in March, according to an AP-NORC poll. The decline reflects voters’ growing frustration over unfulfilled promises to tame inflation, with gasoline prices jumping after the U.S. attacked Iran in February and the conflict dragging on longer than expected.
Only about one-quarter of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the cost of living, a critical concern for voters heading into the midterm elections. About three-quarters of Americans described the U.S. economy as “very” or “somewhat” poor in April, up from about two-thirds in February, according to AP-NORC data.
Trump’s approval on Iran remains weak at 32 percent, unchanged since last month, according to the AP-NORC poll. Just 34 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s approach to Iran overall, with significant partisan divides: 71 percent of Republicans approve while only 8 percent of Democrats do, according to an Associated Press/NORC survey.
The Iran war has directly driven economic concerns. As U.S. strikes escalated the conflict, oil prices surged roughly 35 percent, contributing to broader inflation pressures. Trump dismissed the war as a “little journey” but the conflict’s economic toll has weighed heavily on public sentiment.
Trump’s falling approval ratings create problems for his party as it tries to defend House and Senate majorities in the midterm elections. The AP-NORC poll found that Trump is especially weak on cost of living, and enthusiasm about his performance has waned over the past year among his own supporters. Even among Republicans, only about half approve of Trump’s handling of cost of living, and younger Republicans are particularly unhappy, with about 6 in 10 under 45 disapproving.
The overall decline has been steep. Trump started his second term in January 2025 with 47 percent approval according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, which has since slipped to 34 percent in late June—tying his second-term record low from April. CBS/YouGov polls show a similar trajectory, with Trump’s approval falling from 53 percent last February to 38 percent in recent surveys.
Only about 2 in 10 independents approve of Trump’s performance on the economy, down from about 3 in 10 in March. Among Republicans, 62 percent have a positive view of his economic handling, but that’s down from 74 percent in April. In general, Republicans are less enthusiastic about Trump’s overall performance than they were shortly after he took office, with only 38 percent “strongly” approving now compared to 51 percent in March 2025.
Trump’s approval ratings now align with his predecessor Joe Biden’s lowest approval rating in AP-NORC polling—36 percent in July 2022 after inflation spiked to a four-decade high. Biden’s approval ratings recovered slightly as inflation eased, raising questions about whether Trump can quickly regroup to show tangible progress on cost of living before the November midterms.
Sources
- Associated Press/NORC — Trump’s economic approval decline, Iran approval, cost of living disapproval, and overall job approval figures from April 2026 poll
- Asbury Park Press — Current approval ratings as of July 13, 2026, from multiple polling aggregators
- Time Magazine — Trump’s Iran approval at 34 percent, partisan breakdowns, and approval trends through June 2026
- Reuters/Ipsos — Trump’s approval trajectory from 47 percent in January 2025 to 34 percent in late June 2026
- CBS/YouGov — Trump’s approval decline from 53 percent in February to 38 percent in recent surveys
