Story perspectives

Poll Shows Trump Approval at Record Low 31%

By Drooid · Oct 20, 2026, 10:55 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump’s war against Iran has driven living-cost spikes and sunk his approval.
Gasoline prices rose about 50 % and diesel about two-thirds since February 28.
Seventy-two per cent say the conflict damaged U.S. relations with allies.
Reuters/Ipsos poll puts Trump’s approval at a record low of 31 %.
Sixty-five per cent blame Trump’s policies for higher-than-usual prices.

History

Historical Context

The 1973 Arab oil embargo, triggered after the Yom Kippur War, plunged global gasoline prices by roughly 70% and sparked a U.S. energy crisis. President Richard Nixon, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, OPEC, Saudi Arabia, and the United Nations each negotiated amid a 5-million-barrel-per-day production cut. Today's U.S. gasoline surge of 50% under President Donald Trump’s Iran confrontation mirrors the 1973 price shock, eroding public support and straining allies. The 1973 crisis taught that energy dependence can depress approval ratings, prompting modern policymakers to diversify supplies and consider diplomatic de-escalation.

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Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump’s war against Iran has driven living-cost spikes and sunk his approval.
Gasoline prices rose about 50 % and diesel about two-thirds since February 28.
Seventy-two per cent say the conflict damaged U.S. relations with allies.
Reuters/Ipsos poll puts Trump’s approval at a record low of 31 %.
Sixty-five per cent blame Trump’s policies for higher-than-usual prices.

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