A sharp increase in disapproval of Donald Trump’s performance among Republicans has led to his approval rating falling to a record low, as the Iran war continues to drive price increases, according to a new poll released on Thursday by Fox News.
Republican Disapproval Surges
The survey found a seven-point rise in the number of self-identified GOP voters who now say they disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy. Just 36 percent of non-MAGA GOP respondents say they approve of his economic record, compared with 74 percent of MAGA Republicans who approve. However, the supermajority of MAGA voters still backing his economic handling was insufficient to prevent his approval rating on the issue from plummeting to just 29 percent—five percentage points lower than the same poll recorded a month ago.
Inflation Remains a Weak Point
Even counting self-identified MAGA voters’ continued approval of Trump’s presidency, his handling of inflation remains a weak point. Only 24 percent of Americans say they approve of how he has handled inflation, despite it being the issue voters cited as most important in returning him to power in the 2024 presidential election. Just over half of Republicans (51 percent) expressed disapproval of his handling of inflation, with 85 percent of Independents and 96 percent of Democrats also disapproving.
Overall Approval Rating Drops
Trump’s overall approval rating, according to the Fox poll, stands at 39 percent, with 61 percent disapproving, including 41 percent who strongly disapprove. This represents a three-point drop since last month, a full ten points lower than at the start of his second term, and just one percentage point above the lowest rating of his first term in October 2017.
The three-point slide was driven by drops among key demographic groups: rural white voters’ approval dropped by six points, Republicans by three points, and white men without college degrees—a traditionally strong base—by five points.
Congressional Pushback and Iran Conflict
Trump’s plummeting approval ratings come as he faces rare pushback from Republicans in Congress over his demand for $1 billion in funding for his controversial ballroom project and a nearly $1.8 billion slush fund his former personal lawyer turned attorney general is establishing to compensate friends and allies investigated or prosecuted by previous administrations.
Senate Republicans have stripped the ballroom funding from a border security package after Majority Leader John Thune rejected Trump’s demand to fire the nonpartisan Senate parliamentarian, who had ruled the funding could not be included under fast-track rules. Several House and Senate Republicans have also expressed concerns about the anti-weaponization fund, with Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania vowing to join Democrats in blocking the Justice Department from creating it.
Near-record high gas prices amid Trump’s continuing conflict with Iran persist in driving his numbers down. Ninety-six percent of Americans say gas prices are a problem, with 75 percent calling them a major problem. A whopping 91 percent blame Trump’s decision to go to war with Iran for the high gas prices.
