Trump Approval Plummets Amid Iran War and Economic Crisis

President Donald Trump has seen his net approval rating fall to -20.4, a near-record low for his term, following the resumption of the war with Iran. An Economist/YouGov survey reports his approval at 33%, with 62% of respondents disapproving of his performance. This decline is driven by the ongoing foreign conflict and a domestic affordability crisis, with significant disapproval regarding inflation and the general economy.

Economic instability is further evidenced by a weak July jobs report showing 23,000 lost jobs and rising fuel prices caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Despite these headwinds, the S&P 500 has surged, fueled by an AI boom and expectations that weak employment data will deter interest rate hikes.

These conditions have shifted the political landscape ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. Analyst Nate Silver's forecast model gives Democrats an 86% chance of winning the House and a 57% chance of winning the Senate. Progressive candidates are already seeing success in primaries, including Abdul El-Sayed's victory in the Michigan U.S. Senate primary. Conservative critics, such as Daily Wire host Matt Walsh, argue that the administration's focus on foreign wars over grocery prices is fueling the rise of socialist political power.