Donald Trump's approval rating has hit its lowest mark since returning to the White House, sinking to 37% as Americans grapple with surging fuel costs and widespread disapproval of the military conflict with Iran.
A New York Times/Siena poll released Monday shows the sharp decline follows months of economic strain tied to the February attack on Iran by U.S. and Israeli forces. Nearly two-thirds of voters now say entering the conflict was a mistake, while fewer than one in four believe the war has justified its cost.
The economic toll has become impossible to ignore. Gasoline prices have climbed to an average of $4.52 per gallon nationwide, up from $3.18 a year ago, according to AAA data. Trump himself dismissed the impact on American households last week, stating he does not think about the public's financial situation when considering negotiations with Iran.
That comment appears to have crystallized broader frustration. Nearly 64% of voters disapprove of Trump's handling of the economy, a policy area that has long been considered his political strength. Majorities also gave him poor marks on managing the cost of living, immigration, and the Israel-Palestine conflict.
The erosion extends across voter demographics. Among independents, 47% now say Trump's policies have personally hurt them, compared with 41% last fall. The decline accelerated sharply in recent months, with the president already sitting at 42% approval by October, according to University of Massachusetts Lowell researchers. They noted then that the initial goodwill from his election victory had completely evaporated.
Earlier damage from the administration's aggressive deportation tactics, which included incidents resulting in the deaths of two U.S. citizens at the hands of federal agents, had already weakened his standing. The Iran conflict and resulting oil crisis appear to have pushed supporters over the edge.
Some Trump voters recognize the shift. John Johnson, a 78-year-old contractor from Kentucky who cast his ballot for Trump, told the Guardian recently: "Everybody's suffering from gas prices. Is it handled right? I don't think so. It could have been handled differently, diplomatically more so."
The numbers carry weight heading into November's midterm elections, as presidential approval ratings have historically proven reliable predictors of how the incumbent's party will perform in legislative races.
Democratic fortunes, however, remain complicated. Just 26% of voters expressed satisfaction with the Democratic Party, while 44% of Democrats themselves said they were dissatisfied with their own party.
Author James Rodriguez: "Trump's economic vulnerabilities are bleeding into everything else, and it's hard to see how he rebuilds that without reversing course on Iran."
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