Trump Approval Hits Career Low Ahead of Midterm Elections

President Donald Trump has seen his approval rating drop to 32%, the lowest point of his political career and lower than the record low of 35% reached by Joe Biden. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll of 1,277 adults, the decline is driven by public dissatisfaction over the cost of living and a war launched against Iran in February 2026 to prevent the development of nuclear weapons. The conflict has disrupted oil and gas supplies, increasing fuel prices and leading 51% of Republicans to disapprove of the president's handling of inflation.

These trends coincide with a shift in momentum for the November 3 midterm elections. Registered voters currently favor Democrats over Republicans 43% to 35%, with Democrats holding an average lead of 8 percentage points on the generic congressional ballot. While Republicans maintain strong support for Trump's immigration policies, he faces low overall approval for his approaches to crime and the Iran conflict. Trump stated on Wednesday that the U.S. is "hopefully toward the end" of the war, though Iran has not confirmed a resumption of direct negotiations.

The elections are further complicated by a crisis of legitimacy. A federal judge blocked the U.S. Postal Service on August 11 from implementing an executive order by Trump that would have tightened mail-in voting rules. Public confidence in election fairness has declined to 55%, with both major parties expressing distrust in the process.