Trump approval falls to 33% as poll records lowest level of presidency

President Donald Trump's approval rating plummeted to the lowest point of his tenure as poll results revealed overwhelming American skepticism about the prolonged US conflict with Iran. The conflict's impact on gasoline prices has significantly burdened households and fueled concerns about its lasting duration. In the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, just a mere 33% of respondents approved of Trump's handling of the situation, while a substantial 64% disapproved.

This marks a decline from 35% in an earlier poll and the lowest point in his current term, tying with December 2017. Trump's decision to launch strikes against Iran alongside US ally Israel further exacerbated the situation, disrupting a fifth of the global oil trade and triggering a surge in gasoline prices. Despite initially promising the conflict would be short-lived, Iran's resilience has kept the Strait of Hormuz largely under blockade, prolonging the issue.

A majority of Americans, including 87% of Democrats and 71% of Republicans, believe US involvement in Iran will persist for an extended period. Only 16% think the conflict will conclude within a few weeks. Trump justifies the high gas prices by asserting that it is worth the cost of preventing a "very evil country" from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

However, only one in five Americans, and half of Republicans, find the war worthwhile. Concerns over the war and rising gasoline prices have Republicans apprehensive about defending their slim majority in the upcoming US House of Representatives elections. Democrats, on the other hand, are increasingly in a strong position to potentially secure control of the US Senate in the November 3 elections.

According to recent Reuters/Ipsos polling, voters now favor Democrats as better stewards of the economy for the first time in nearly a decade, with 38% preferring Democrats over Republicans. Democrats also appear more capable of managing the cost of living, although the Republican stance on immigration remains more popular than Democrats'.

However, recent deadly confrontations and a surge in detainees, including children, have led to a sharp drop in Republican favorability on immigration policy, with only 40% of registered voters supporting Republicans on this issue, compared to 38% who back Democrats. This slight 2-point difference is the lowest observed during Trump's presidency.