<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A recent <a href="https://www.economist.com/interactive/trump-approval-tracker" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouGov/<em>Economist</em></a> poll indicated that President <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/donald-trump/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Donald Trump’s</a> approval ratings were negative in all but three states.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Editorial director of the <em>Washington Examiner</em>, <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/author/hugo-gurdon/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hugo Gurdon</a>, discussed the findings during an appearance on <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/c-span/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">C-Span’s</a> <em>Washington Journal</em> on Sunday.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The president is certainly very unpopular,” Gurdon stated. “People are very upset about prices, grocery prices, gas prices, the price of everything. And they know that the president’s tariffs have pushed prices higher.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The survey data was collected from YouGov’s opt-in panel of 1,500 members who complete an online questionnaire weekly. The <em>Economist</em> aggregates this data. The three states where Trump maintains a net positive approval are Idaho, Wyoming, and West Virginia.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Gurdon noted that the most significant price increases occurred under former President <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/joe-biden/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joe Biden</a>, peaking at <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/3005344/white-house-responds-biden-debunked-9-percent-inflation-claim/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">more than 9% in June 2022</a>. However, he emphasized that Trump’s tariffs continue to contribute to financial strains faced by U.S. consumers.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Additionally, the Iran war has pushed prices higher because it has increased energy costs, particularly gasoline, which raises transportation costs for all goods, thereby increasing prices,” Gurdon explained.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Gurdon characterized the upcoming <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/2026-election/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">midterm elections</a> as “unusual” due to the president’s decisions.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“His job approval significantly impacts the midterms because Republicans are uncertain about how closely they want to align with the president,” Gurdon noted. “However, they recognize the necessity of mobilizing MAGA Republicans to vote for them, placing them in a difficult position.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Gurdon stated that Republicans would prefer to resolve the war to stabilize prices, adding that negotiations with Iran appear to be stagnant.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“I think it was always, frankly, unrealistic to expect [Iran] to come to any kind of negotiation settlement that they would adhere to,” Gurdon concluded.</p>