President Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen to a record low in his second term, with just 37 percent of voters approving of his job performance, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll. The survey of 1,500 registered voters, conducted in mid-May, found 59 percent disapprove.
The Iran war and rising costs are key factors. Some 65 percent of voters disapprove of Trump's handling of the conflict, and more than half say he was wrong to start the war in February. The president's lowest marks come on the cost of living, with 69 percent disapproving, including a third of Republicans.
Inflation has risen steadily, with gas prices averaging $4.51 per gallon as of May 18, the highest since 2022. The Iran war has disrupted global oil supplies via the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has called high prices temporary, but no peace deal is in sight, and half of voters doubt the US can end Iran's nuclear program.
Most voters oppose resuming war if negotiations fail, despite Trump's threat to bomb Iranian infrastructure. While 82 percent of Republicans approve of Trump overall, his support on the economy has slipped. The Consumer Price Index shows prices up 3.8 percent year-on-year, with grocery prices rising 2.9 percent and mortgage rates climbing since the war began.
Other polls confirm the trend: CNN/SSRS puts approval at 35 percent, CBS News/YouGov found 70 percent angry or frustrated with Trump's economic policies, and Reuters/Ipsos recorded 36 percent approval.
