President Donald Trump’s net approval rating has reached its lowest level yet, as more Americans express disapproval of his actions in office, according to a recent poll. The president recently hit the 500-day mark in office.
What did the poll say about Trump’s approval rating?
The Economist, which uses data from YouGov surveys, stated that Trump is the most unpopular president in history since it started polling presidential performance in 2009. The publication released the poll on June 2, with more than 60% of Americans disapproving of Trump as president and an approval rating of minus 25, the lowest in the poll’s history.
The survey of 1,604 adults, conducted May 29 through June 1, found that Trump’s approval ratings continue to drop after reaching similar lows in the previous week’s poll, conducted May 22-26. According to USA Today, only 34% of Americans approved of his job performance, compared with 59% who disapproved.
The decline comes as a majority of Americans say the conflict with Iran was the “wrong decision” and express growing concerns about the economy, with more than three-quarters of voters rating economic conditions as fair or poor and 59% saying they are worsening, the poll states.
Both the U.S. and Iran have made proposals to end the war in the Middle East
In early May, Blavity reported that Trump dismissed Iran’s response to a U.S. peace proposal aimed at ending the 10-week conflict. The United States and Iran rejected key parts of each other’s proposals, with U.S. officials focused on dismantling Iran’s nuclear program and limiting its missile capabilities. Iran, meanwhile, sought to maintain a ceasefire in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route.
The conflict with Iran has contributed to rising inflation and gas prices, two issues that remain top concerns for many Americans. According to the poll, Trump’s approval rating on inflation and prices fell to a term-low net rating of minus 43. The decline comes as gas prices have increased since the start of the conflict, from less than $3 per gallon to $4.48.
While Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said economic relief is coming, the administration’s mixed messaging on the war has fueled skepticism among many Americans.
What are party voters saying about Trump’s rating?
Independent voters have become increasingly dissatisfied with Trump’s performance in office, with 71% now saying they disapprove of his job as president, according to the latest Economist/YouGov poll, per USA Today.
The publication also noted that Trump’s lowest approval ratings were in states that voted Democratic, while voters in Republican states praised his performance. However, his low ratings could pose challenges for Republicans in the midterm elections, even as his endorsed candidates continue to succeed in many GOP primary races.
As of June 2, polling averages from The New York Times, Silver Bulletin and RealClearPolitics showed Trump’s approval rating ranging from about 38% to 40%, while his disapproval rating stood between roughly 57% and 58%, USA Today reported.