President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 33%, the lowest level of his presidency, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted August 14-17. The figure represents a sharp two-point drop from 35% earlier in the month and marks a historic low for his second term, tying the nadir of his first presidency reached in December 2017.
The decline is driven primarily by the unpopular Iran war and surging gasoline prices tied to the conflict. According to the same Reuters/Ipsos survey, 64% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s performance in the White House, while an overwhelming 80% expect U.S. involvement in Iran to continue for an extended period—a stark contrast to Trump’s initial promise that the conflict would last only a few weeks.
The war’s unpopularity has become a political liability. Only one in five Americans believe the conflict has been worth the cost, according to the Reuters/Ipsos data. The surge in oil prices triggered by the conflict has paralyzed a fifth of global oil trade, pushing gasoline costs higher at a time when Trump campaigned on controlling inflation. At a campaign rally in Garden City, New York, Trump acknowledged the pressure, telling supporters that paying “a tiny little bit more for your gasoline” was justified to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Trump’s approval decline has been sharpest among independents and swing voters. Among Republicans, approval has fallen to 69%, down from 84% in February 2025—the first time GOP approval has dipped below 70% since his second term began. Democrats remain largely unmoved, with only 6% approving, down slightly from 10% in February.
The 33% approval rating places Trump among the least popular presidents at a comparable stage in their tenures. According to Pew Research Center analysis, his rating is lower than most recent presidents at similar points in their administrations—only comparable to Joe Biden’s 37% approval in the summer of 2022. Presidents Reagan, Clinton, and Obama all had substantially higher ratings heading into their midterm elections: Obama at 47% in August 2010, Clinton at 45% in July 1994, and Reagan at 42% in July 1982.
The partisan divide over Trump’s performance has widened to 78 percentage points—among the broadest on record, according to Pew Research. This reflects a decades-long trend of increasing polarization in presidential approval ratings, driven largely by declining approval among members of the opposing party rather than shifting support among the president’s own base.
The approval numbers carry significant implications for November’s midterm elections. Republicans hold slim majorities in both chambers of Congress, and concerns about the Iran war and gas prices have Democrats increasingly confident about defending Senate seats and potentially flipping House seats. Reuters/Ipsos polling in August showed voters prefer Democrats over Republicans on economic stewardship for the first time in roughly a decade, with 38% believing Democrats will handle the economy better compared to 35% who favor the Republican approach.
Sources
- Reuters — Trump’s approval rating at 33%, disapproval at 64%; Iran war and gas prices as drivers; one in five Americans think the war is worth it; 80% expect extended U.S. involvement in Iran
- Pew Research Center — Trump’s 34% approval (as of mid-July) lower than most recent presidents at comparable points; partisan gap of 78 percentage points; Republican approval at 69%, down from 84% in February 2025
- Wikipedia (Opinion polling on the second Trump presidency) — Historical context on Trump’s approval decline throughout 2025-2026
