Donald Trump’s approval rating has dropped to 37%, the lowest level since he returned to office in January 2025, according to a New York Times/Siena poll released on Monday. The decline comes amid growing public frustration over the cost of living and the US-Israel war on Iran.
Nearly two-thirds of voters said entering the conflict with Iran had been the wrong call, with fewer than one in four Americans believing the war was worth the costs. The nationwide average fuel price has risen to almost $4.52 per gallon, up from $3.18 a year ago, reflecting the economic strain.
An estimated 64% of US voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy, traditionally a strong issue for him. A majority also gave him poor marks on managing the cost of living, immigration and the Israel-Palestine conflict. Among independents, 47% said his policies have personally hurt them, up from 41% last autumn.
The president’s approval rating has been declining for some time. By October 2025, nine months into his term, it had already fallen to 42%, matching Joe Biden’s rating in April 2024. Researchers noted that goodwill from the election victory appeared to have drained away, with the administration’s heavy-handed deportation approach and the fallout from the Iran war hastening the decline.
Despite Trump’s struggles, the Democratic Party also faces dissatisfaction: only 26% of voters expressed satisfaction with the party, and 44% of Democrats themselves said they were unhappy with it. The poll suggests a challenging landscape ahead of November’s US midterm elections.
