President Donald Trump‘s approval rating has dropped to its lowest point since returning to the White House, as rising fuel prices and public discontent over the administration’s military actions in Iran weigh heavily on his standing with voters. A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows only 36% of polled Americans now approve of Trump’s job performance, a decline from 40% just one week earlier.
Donald Trump’s approval rating amid surging oil price
Trump’s approval rating has taken a big hit as several Americans express growing dissatisfaction with his handling of the economy and the cost of living. The four-day poll, completed on March 23, 2026, reveals that just 25% of respondents approve of how the president is managing the cost of living. Notably, it was a cornerstone issue of his 2024 presidential campaign.
Economic stewardship numbers have also plummeted, with only 29% of the polled Americans approving of Trump’s handling of the economy. This is the lowest economic approval rating of either of his presidential administrations and falls below any such rating achieved by his predecessor, Joe Biden. The voters’ concerns about the economy and rising living costs seemingly played a role in Biden’s electoral defeat, and Trump had campaigned heavily on promises to restore economic vitality.
Furthermore, the oil price surge has reportedly come up as a major factor driving public dissatisfaction. The prices have risen by approximately one dollar per gallon since the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran on February 28 (via Reuters). The poll found that 63% of polled Americans believe that the U.S. economy is “somewhat weak” or “very weak,” including 40% of Republicans, 84% of Democrats, and 66% of independents. The war has severely disrupted oil shipments from the Middle East, with experts warning that persistently higher fuel prices will eventually impact the broader economy.
Donald Trump’s overall approval rating stood at 47% in the first days of his presidency and had largely held around 40% since last summer. While current numbers remain above his first administration’s low point of 33%, the ongoing war in Iran appears to be reshaping public opinion for the president.
