President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 33 percent in the latest polling, marking a near second-term low as economic concerns and the unpopular Iran war weigh on his standing with voters.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll, conducted over four days and released in late August, found just 33 percent of respondents approved of Trump’s job performance, while 64 percent disapproved. Only 13 percent strongly approved, according to the survey of 1,166 respondents.
This approval level represents the lowest point of Trump’s second term, approaching his all-time low of 34 percent. Multiple recent polls have recorded approval ratings in the low-to-mid 30s, with the latest AP-NORC survey from early September confirming the 33 percent figure, down from 38 percent just one month earlier.
The decline reflects voter dissatisfaction across several fronts. Trump’s handling of the Iran war has become a particular liability—approval of his war policy fell to just 31 percent in August, down six points since June, including a drop from 71 to 61 percent among Republicans.
Economic concerns compound the problem. A record 63 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy, and 73 percent disapprove of his handling of the cost of living. Inflation remains stubbornly high, with 58 percent of voters citing cost of living as their top concern.
Historically, Trump’s approval rating sits lower than most recent presidents at comparable points in their terms. According to Pew Research, Trump’s 34 percent approval is lower than Biden, Obama, Bush, or Clinton held at similar stages of their presidencies, with a partisan gap of 78 percentage points between Republicans and Democrats.
The timing is significant for the midterm elections, now just weeks away. While Republicans remain more supportive of Trump than Democrats—80 percent of Republicans approve of him—that approval has fallen 11 points from the start of his second term. The latest UMass Amherst poll found Trump’s approval sinking to 32 percent amid the Iran war, and polling shows his approval negative in 47 states, positive in only 3.
Historically, presidential approval ratings strongly influence midterm outcomes. Low approval often translates to voter dissatisfaction with the president’s party, potentially affecting congressional races across the country. Trump’s current standing suggests headwinds for Republican candidates in November.
Sources
- Reuters — confirmed Trump’s approval at 33 percent in late August Reuters/Ipsos poll with 64 percent disapproval and 13 percent strong approval
- Al Jazeera — reported 33 percent approval as lowest of Trump’s presidency with majority concerned about Iran war
- The Hill — noted Trump approval at 33 percent in latest Reuters/Ipsos survey, third time pollsters found this level
- Forbes — reported approval at 33 percent with Iran war handling at 31 percent approval and Republican support down from 71 to 61 percent
- AP-NORC — confirmed 33 percent overall job approval in early September, down from 38 percent one month prior
- Pew Research — found Trump’s 34 percent approval lower than most recent presidents at comparable points, with 78-point partisan gap
- Economist/YouGov — reported record 63 percent disapproval of Trump’s economy handling and 73 percent disapproval on cost of living
- The Guardian — noted Trump approval at 34 percent as midterms approach with 75 percent thinking he isn’t focusing on right issues
