Poll: Trump's approval rating drops to lowest point of his presidency at 33%

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday showed support for U.S. President Donald Trump falling to its lowest level since he took office, with a large majority of Americans expressing concern that the U.S. conflict with Iran will drag on for a long time.

Only 33% of respondents in the four-day survey said they approve of Trump’s performance, while 64% said they disapprove. Trump’s approval rating has dropped from 35% in an earlier poll conducted earlier this month to its lowest point during his current term, matching the low recorded during his first term in December 2017. Since returning to the White House last year, when his approval rating was just under 50%, Trump’s popularity has been severely affected this year after he ordered strikes on Iran in coordination with Israel, a U.S. ally. The ensuing conflict disrupted roughly 20% of global oil trade, leading to higher gasoline prices that are straining American households and increasing pressure on Trump’s Republican allies, who are seeking to maintain their majority in the midterm congressional elections scheduled for November.

Trump campaigned on promises to curb inflation and avoid prolonged wars, initially pledging that the conflict with Iran would last only a few weeks. He said the war was the only way to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon that could pose a threat to the world. However, Iran has shown resilience, keeping oil trade through the Strait of Hormuz largely disrupted despite a de-escalation in hostilities. The Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 80% of Americans, including 87% of Democrats and 71% of Republicans, believe U.S. involvement in Iran “will last for a long time.” Only 16% expected the conflict to end within a few weeks. The online poll included 1,166 adults across the United States, with a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.