Trump’s approval rating falls to 32%, cost of living weighs heavily

Donald Trump’s approval rating has dropped to 32%, the lowest level recorded in Reuters/Ipsos polls during his two presidencies. This decline comes just six weeks ahead of the midterm elections on November 3, as the cost of living dominates voters’ concerns.

Only 17% of the 1,277 adults surveyed approve of how the American president is handling the cost of living. Among Republicans, 44% approve of his actions on this issue, while 51% disapprove, a reversal that undermines one of the central arguments of his economic campaign.

The decline also affects his political base. Donald Trump’s approval rating among Republicans has fallen from 82% to 73% in just one week. His overall approval was at 35% in the previous Reuters/Ipsos poll.

The war against Iran and the rising energy prices are contributing to this trend. Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, promising to curb inflation and end foreign wars. At that time, his approval rating was 47% in Reuters/Ipsos polls.

The pressure extends beyond mere presidential popularity. Two Republican Senate candidates, Mike Rogers in Michigan and Ashley Hinson in Iowa, have called for a swift end to the war against Iran, highlighting the cost of the conflict and rising fuel prices. This distancing occurs in states where Republicans are seeking to maintain or gain crucial seats.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted from September 17 to 20, 2026, with a representative national sample of 1,277 American adults recruited from Ipsos’s KnowledgePanel. The margin of error is approximately three percentage points for all respondents.