President Donald Trump’s approval rating has deteriorated, a new Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll shows, as fallout from war with Iran and surging living costs erode confidence in his leadership just six months before the midterm elections.
Donald Trump’s disapproval rating rose to 62%
The survey, published on Sunday, found that Donald Trump’s disapproval rating reached 62%, which is the highest recorded across both of his terms in office. His overall approval sits at 37%, down slightly from 39% in February (via The Guardian).
Economic discontent drives much of the shift. Since launching the war against Iran in February, Trump’s administration has faced a global oil shock that pushed gas prices to a four-year high. Public judgment on the president’s handling of the cost of living is 76% of polled Americans disapprove, while just 23% approve. On the war itself, respondents disapprove by 66% to 32%.
Furthermore, the new poll underscores a broader crisis of confidence as two-thirds of respondents said the country is moving in the wrong direction. Seven in 10 said Trump is not honest and trustworthy, and roughly six in 10 questioned whether he has the mental sharpness to serve effectively.
Even within his own party, the intensity of support seems to have weakened. While 85% of polled Republicans continue to approve of the president, the share who strongly approve fell to 45% from 53% in prior surveys. Among Republican-leaning independents, his approval dropped to a new low of 56%. Among all independents, the figure stands at just 25%, a pronounced vulnerability with swing voters.
Donald Trump’s strongest issue remains border security, where 45% polled Americans approve of his performance. Yet even there, 56% disapprove. His handling of immigration policy more broadly got 40% approval and 59% disapproval.
The numbers collectively appear to threaten the Republican Party’s thin House majority and place its Senate prospects under new strain heading into the midterm campaign season.
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on Mandatory.
