Donald Trump Approval Hits Record Low Amid Iran Conflict

President Donald Trump saw his net approval rating drop to a historic low of -25% on the 500th day of his second term, according to a YouGov and The Economist poll. The decline is attributed to economic dissatisfaction and the launch of Operation Epic Fury against Iran, which included the blockading of the Strait of Hormuz. National gas prices have exceeded $4.50 per gallon, and Moody’s Analytics estimates the conflict has cost U.S. households approximately $100 billion.

In response to these pressures, four Republicans joined Democrats in the House to pass a war powers resolution limiting military operations against Tehran. Trump dismissed the vote as meaningless, claiming it interfered with his final negotiations to end the war. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent characterized the price spikes as a short-term blip and stated that costs would decrease quickly as the conflict ends, while White House spokesman Kush Desai defended the administration's focus on its economic agenda.

Beyond the conflict, Trump faced domestic political challenges as Republican senators Susan Collins and Dan Sullivan opposed an anti-weaponization fund. He also decided not to nominate Bill Pulte for permanent director of national intelligence. Amidst these tensions, the president announced several beautification projects for Washington, D.C., including a new pedestrian bridge connecting the Lincoln Memorial to the Potomac River, which he called the promenade.