U.S. President Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen to 33%, the lowest level of his presidency, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted from August 14 to August 17, 2026. The poll indicated that 64% of respondents disapproved of Trump's performance. This decline follows Trump's decision to order military strikes on Iran, which has led to concerns about the conflict's duration and its impact on global oil trade and gasoline prices.
The poll found that 80% of Americans believe U.S. involvement in Iran will continue for an extended period, with only 16% expecting the conflict to end in a few weeks. Trump's remarks at a political rally in Garden City, New York, suggested that higher gasoline prices are justified to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. However, only 20% of Americans, including half of Republicans, believe the war has been worth it.
Concerns over the war and rising gasoline prices have implications for the upcoming November midterm elections, with Democrats gaining favor among voters regarding economic management for the first time in nearly a decade. The poll showed 38% of voters prefer Democrats for economic stewardship compared to 35% for Republicans. Additionally, the Republican advantage on immigration policy has narrowed, with 40% of voters favoring Republicans and 38% choosing Democrats, marking the smallest gap during Trump's presidency. The poll surveyed 1,166 U.S. adults nationwide and has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.