Disastrous! In the midterm election year, Trump's approval ratings hit a new low! Only 35% of Americans support military action against Iran.

Political pressure on U.S. President Donald Trump continues to mount as he returns to the White House. A recent joint poll by Reuters and Ipsos shows that his overall approval rating has dropped to 36%, down significantly from 40% the previous week, marking a new low for his current term. The public’s greatest dissatisfaction is with rising living costs, with only 35% supporting military action against Iran.

Trump’s approval rating hits a new low, public dissatisfaction with living cost pressures

From an economic perspective, the key issue behind the deteriorating public opinion is “pressure from living costs.” Data indicates that only 25% of respondents approve of Trump’s handling of issues related to prices and living costs, while support for his overall economic governance stands at just 29%. This figure is not only lower than his past term’s performance but also falls below the lowest economic ratings during former President Joe Biden’s administration.

Analysts point out that rising oil prices are one of the significant factors dragging down public opinion. Since the U.S. and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran on February 28, the energy supply in the Middle East has been impacted, causing global oil transportation disruptions, with domestic gasoline prices in the U.S. rising by approximately $1 per gallon. This direct change reflected in daily expenses has rapidly increased voter dissatisfaction with the government’s economic management and has undermined Trump’s core promise of “lowering inflation and improving the economy” for the 2024 election.

Reuters poll: Only 35% of Americans support military action against Iran

On the diplomatic and security front, military action against Iran has also failed to gain majority public support. The latest survey shows that only 35% of Americans support the related military strikes, down from 37% the previous week; the opposition rate has risen to 61%. Notably, compared to the early stages of the conflict when many people were still waiting to see how things developed, public opinion has gradually shifted to clear opposition, indicating that as the conflict continues and costs become apparent, social tolerance is rapidly declining.

More critically, a majority of the public holds a pessimistic view regarding the long-term impact of the war. Polls reveal that 46% of respondents believe that the conflict with Iran will make the U.S. “less secure” in the long run, while only 26% think it can enhance national security, with the rest believing the impact is limited. This suggests that the Trump administration’s attempt to argue for security through “tough foreign policy” has not successfully persuaded most voters.

Trump’s support within the Republican Party remains stable

Despite the overall decline in support, Trump’s base within the Republican Party remains stable. However, it is worth noting that even among Republican supporters, dissatisfaction with his handling of living costs has risen from 27% to 34%, indicating that economic pressures have begun to erode his core support group. This “internal loosening” is seen as a potential political risk, especially with the midterm elections approaching.

Additionally, polls also show a generally weak economic confidence. As much as 63% of Americans believe the current economy is “fairly weak” or “very weak,” including 40% of Republican supporters, 66% of independents, and 84% of Democratic supporters. This means that dissatisfaction with the economic situation has become a consensus across party lines.

This article first appeared in Chain News ABMedia.