A new poll gives Republicans and President Trump a harsh reality: Most Americans are unhappy with Washington and blame the GOP, and opinions on how well he’s doing have only soured.
An Economist/YouGov poll released Tuesday showed Mr. Trump’s job approval dropping to a record-low minus 23 — the lowest net approval he has received in that survey.
At this point in his first term, his net approval was -11 compared with former President Joseph R. Biden’s -6.
Only 35% of Americans strongly or somewhat approve of Mr. Trump, while his disapproval rating sits at 58%.
In just two prior Economist/YouGov polls, his approval and disapproval ratings have been lower, with 34% approval in November 2017 and 59% disapproval this past February.
Overall, the share of Mr. Trump’s 2024 voters who approve of his job handling has fallen from 93% at the start of his term to 76%.
Last week’s Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 36% of Americans approve of his job performance, as people are paying the price for the rising cost of gas after the Trump administration launched the war against Iran.
The way the president is handling the conflict, which started Feb. 28 with U.S.-Israeli strikes against the Islamic republic, has prompted an unfavorable reaction among many Americans.
The Americans who strongly or somewhat approve of Mr. Trump’s management of the Iran war represent 30%, while disapproval sits at 60%, for a net approval of -30. This is down from -19 last week.
Just 8% of Americans strongly or somewhat support the war with Iran, and 59% oppose it.
There is a wide divide between MAGA and non-MAGA Republicans over support of the war — 79% vs. 33%, respectively — as Republicans who do not identify as MAGA supporters have shifted dramatically from a moderately supportive group two weeks ago.
More Americans oppose sending ground troops into Iran than favor it, at 62% and 14%, respectively. MAGA Republicans are likelier to support sending ground troops, but most non-MAGA Republicans are against the idea.
Amid the partial government shutdown, as both parties are deadlocked on negotiations to fund the Department of Homeland Security, Republicans are receiving more blame than Democrats.
Americans are slightly likelier to blame Republicans for the shutdown than to blame Democrats, representing 36% vs. 29%, while both parties launch attacks to control the narrative. Just under a quarter of Americans say the two parties are equally to blame.
