Full Breakdown
Trump’s Approval Rating Hits Record Low Amid Iran War and Cost-of-Living Concerns
4/29/2026, 12:59:11 AM
Core Event: Approval Rating Slips to 34%
A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted April 27-28 found 34 % of U.S. adults approve of President Donald Trump’s performance, down from 36 % in the April 15-20 poll and representing the lowest approval level of his current term, which began in January 2025 with a 47 % thumbs-up rating.
Background & Context: War with Iran, Gasoline Prices, and Pre-Shooting Poll Timing
The United States and Israel began a war against Iran on February 28, 2026, after surprise attacks that halted roughly one-fifth of global oil trade. U.S. gasoline prices rose more than 40 % to about $4.18 per gallon. A ceasefire agreed earlier this month has cooled the conflict, yet Iranian threats continue to block most oil shipments from the Persian Gulf, sustaining high energy costs. The Reuters/Ipsos poll was fielded before a gunman was stopped at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on April 25, an incident prosecutors have charged as an attempted assassination, whose impact on public opinion remains uncertain.
Data & Statistics: Poll Findings and Economic Indicators
Key poll metrics show overall approval at 34 % (±3 pp). Economic management approval stands at 27 %, lower than any rating recorded during Trump’s 2017-2021 term, which never fell below 33 %. Only 22 % approve of his handling of the cost of living, down from 25 % in the prior survey. War approval is 34 %, a decline from 36 % in mid-April and 38 % in mid-March. Sample sizes differ: one report cites 1,014 U.S. adults, another 1,269 adults (including 1,014 registered voters), both with a 3-point margin of error. Among Republicans, 78 % still back Trump, yet 41 % disapprove of his cost-of-living approach. Independent registered voters currently favor Democrats 34 % to 20 %, with one-quarter undecided.
Official Statements & Responses: Political Reactions and Independent Voter Lean
The poll shows that 78 % of Republicans still back President Trump, while 41 % of the party disapprove of his cost-of-living handling, indicating intra-party strain. Independent voters, who could be decisive, currently lean Democratic by a 14-point margin (34 % to 20 %). The findings fuel concern among Republicans that they could lose control of Congress in the November midterm elections.
Criticism & Opposition: Public Dissatisfaction with Cost-of-Living and War
Respondents expressed declining confidence in President Trump’s ability to curb rising living costs and manage the ongoing conflict. Only 22 % approve of his cost-of-living performance, and 34 % back the war effort, reflecting erosion of support even among Republicans, of whom 41 % disapprove of his economic handling. The surge in gasoline prices, now above $4 per gallon, further fuels public unease.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps: Sample Size Variation
Sources differ on the poll’s respondent count—one report cites 1,014 adults, another 1,269 adults (including 1,014 registered voters). Both claim a 3-percentage-point margin of error, but the reason for the sample size discrepancy is not explained.
What’s Next: Midterm Stakes and Energy Outlook
The ceasefire’s durability and Iran’s ongoing threats to oil shipments will likely influence future gasoline prices and, consequently, voter sentiment.
