Full Breakdown
Trump Faces Record Disapproval Over Gas Prices
8/14/2026, 10:30:58 PM
Core Event
Analyst Harry Enten reports that President Donald Trump has reached the highest disapproval rating ever recorded for a president on the issue of gasoline prices. An average of recent polls shows 79 percent of Americans disapprove of how Trump is handling gas prices, a level unmatched by any modern predecessor.
Poll Findings and Demographic Breakdown
- Overall disapproval: 79 percent (average of polls).
- Party lines: 96 percent of Democrats, 85 percent of independents, and 52 percent of Republicans disapprove.
- Income-based view: Among adults earning less than $50,000 annually, disapproval rises to roughly 86 percent. Within this group, about two-thirds of working-class Republicans, 90 percent of working-class independents, and 93 percent of working-class Democrats express disapproval.
- Comparative context: Former presidents have lower disapproval on this issue—Joe Biden peaked at 72 percent, George W. Bush at 75 percent during the 2006 price surge, and Barack Obama at 68 percent in 2011.
Political Implications Ahead of Midterms
Enten notes that the poll results emerge just over two months before the midterm elections, a period when energy officials anticipate continued limits on travel through the Strait of Hormuz and fluctuating fuel prices. The widespread dissatisfaction, especially among working-class voters who have traditionally supported Republican candidates, could influence voter sentiment and campaign narratives in the upcoming contests.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The American people very much dislike, I dare say hate, President Trump when it comes to gas prices,” — Harry Enten
- “That loyal Republican base who has been through thick and thin with Donald John Trump, even they have turned against the president of the United States on gas prices,” — Harry Enten
