Trump’s approval rating hits a record low of 36% as cost of living surges amid Iran war

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump’s approval rating has hit its lowest point since he returned to the White House. Only 36% of Americans now approve of his job performance, as people are unhappy with the war in Iran and the rising cost of living.

According to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll, President Trump's support has slipped from the 40% recorded last week as fuel prices have continued to rise since the war in Iran began on February 28.

President Trump's approval rating falls to 36%

The latest Reuters/Ipsos weekly poll, conducted from March 20 to 23, released on Tuesday, March 24, reveals a significant drop in the president's popularity. 

Many Americans are frustrated because the cost of basic needs has jumped since the US and Israel launched the joint military strikes on Iran on February 28. 

The poll found that only 25% approve of how Trump is handling the current cost of living, which is a major problem since he made the economy the main part of his campaign. 

Even within his own party, more people are getting worried, as the number of Republicans who dislike how he is handling the rising cost of living rose to 34% this week from 27% last week.

Public concern over the war in Iran

The war is becoming a very difficult issue for the administration as it enters its fourth week, with about half of all voters saying they do not like how Trump is handling the military actions. 

While some people supported the initial strikes, that support is fading as the conflict continues.

A poll conducted between February 28 and March 1 found that 27% of Americans approved of the strikes, 43% disapproved, and 29% were unsure at the time.

Now, as public opinion has solidified, overall disapproval has climbed, with about 61% of those polled disapproving of the strikes, up from 59% the week before.

The public still trusts Republicans over Democrats

These low ratings could be a problem for Republicans who want to keep control of Congress in the upcoming mid-term elections in November.

While most Republicans still support the president, about 1 in 5 Republicans said they disapprove of the president's overall performance, which is a slight increase from last week.

Even with these challenges, 38% of voters still think Republicans are better at managing the economy than Democrats, showing that the race remains tight despite the president's falling popularity.

It is to be noted that the poll surveyed 1,272 American adults online from March 20‑23, with a margin of error of 3 percentage points.