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Trumps Approval Rating Hits Lowest Level Amid Iran War and Rising Gas Prices, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Shows
In a nation split over war and rising fuel costs, President Donald Trump’s approval rating has slipped to a 35‑percent low, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll released on June 8, 2026.
The figure marks the lowest level of Trump’s current term and mirrors the 33‑percent approval he earned in December 2017. The rating has held steady since mid‑May and sits just one point above the 34‑percent recorded in April.
The decline is tied to the U.S. and Israel’s military strikes on Iran that began on February 28, 2026. Iran’s retaliatory attacks disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz—a corridor that carries roughly a fifth of the world’s oil trade—shifting market dynamics and heightening domestic concerns.
While gasoline prices have edged lower in recent weeks amid speculation that the conflict could deescalate, 59 percent of respondents expect U.S. gas prices to worsen over the next year, compared with only 17 percent who anticipate improvement.
Cost‑of‑living frustrations also weigh heavily. Only 22 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the issue, while 70 percent disapprove—a sharper decline than the 29 percent approval and 63 percent disapproval that former President Joe Biden received at the end of his term. Inflation and rising fuel costs have left many households feeling the pinch, and Trump’s pledges to curb inflation are failing to resonate.
Public sentiment on the strikes is mixed. Thirty‑six percent approve of the U.S. actions, but just 25 percent believe the benefits outweigh the costs. The war’s effect on oil markets and domestic fuel prices appears to be eroding support for the administration’s foreign‑policy decisions.
The poll also offers a snapshot of the 2026 midterm climate. Forty‑one percent of registered voters would choose Democrats over Republicans if congressional elections were held today, compared with 37 percent for Republicans. When asked about economic plans, 36 percent favor Democrats and 37 percent favor Republicans, indicating that the Republican advantage on economic management has largely dissipated.
The online survey, which reached 4,531 U.S. adults, carries a margin of error of ±2 percentage points and represents a broad cross‑section of the electorate.
With approval at its lowest, widespread discontent over the cost of living, and an ongoing war in the Middle East, the poll suggests that voters are leaning toward Democrats in a climate where congressional control remains a pivotal issue for the Trump administration. The next moves of the administration will be scrutinized as gasoline prices stay volatile and the conflict persists.
Public confidence in Trump’s leadership sits at a critical juncture, and the outcome of the upcoming elections may hinge on how the administration addresses the cost‑of‑living crisis and the enduring conflict in the Middle East.
The figure marks the lowest level of Trump’s current term and mirrors the 33‑percent approval he earned in December 2017. The rating has held steady since mid‑May and sits just one point above the 34‑percent recorded in April.
The decline is tied to the U.S. and Israel’s military strikes on Iran that began on February 28, 2026. Iran’s retaliatory attacks disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz—a corridor that carries roughly a fifth of the world’s oil trade—shifting market dynamics and heightening domestic concerns.
While gasoline prices have edged lower in recent weeks amid speculation that the conflict could deescalate, 59 percent of respondents expect U.S. gas prices to worsen over the next year, compared with only 17 percent who anticipate improvement.
Cost‑of‑living frustrations also weigh heavily. Only 22 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the issue, while 70 percent disapprove—a sharper decline than the 29 percent approval and 63 percent disapproval that former President Joe Biden received at the end of his term. Inflation and rising fuel costs have left many households feeling the pinch, and Trump’s pledges to curb inflation are failing to resonate.
Public sentiment on the strikes is mixed. Thirty‑six percent approve of the U.S. actions, but just 25 percent believe the benefits outweigh the costs. The war’s effect on oil markets and domestic fuel prices appears to be eroding support for the administration’s foreign‑policy decisions.
The poll also offers a snapshot of the 2026 midterm climate. Forty‑one percent of registered voters would choose Democrats over Republicans if congressional elections were held today, compared with 37 percent for Republicans. When asked about economic plans, 36 percent favor Democrats and 37 percent favor Republicans, indicating that the Republican advantage on economic management has largely dissipated.
The online survey, which reached 4,531 U.S. adults, carries a margin of error of ±2 percentage points and represents a broad cross‑section of the electorate.
With approval at its lowest, widespread discontent over the cost of living, and an ongoing war in the Middle East, the poll suggests that voters are leaning toward Democrats in a climate where congressional control remains a pivotal issue for the Trump administration. The next moves of the administration will be scrutinized as gasoline prices stay volatile and the conflict persists.
Public confidence in Trump’s leadership sits at a critical juncture, and the outcome of the upcoming elections may hinge on how the administration addresses the cost‑of‑living crisis and the enduring conflict in the Middle East.
