Trump approval falls to 33 pct, lowest of his presidency

President Donald Trump's approval rating has plummeted to a record low of 33 percent, marking the lowest point of his presidency, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday. The poll, conducted over a four-day period, revealed that a majority of Americans, 64 percent, disapproved of Trump's performance in the White House. This drop in approval has placed Trump's current standing at a level seen during his previous term, specifically in December 2017.

The decline in Trump's popularity can be attributed to the ongoing conflict with Iran that began after he ordered strikes on Iran and its ally, Israel. The war has had far-reaching consequences, affecting global oil trade and causing a surge in gasoline prices, which is impacting US households and casting a shadow over Trump's Republican allies during the upcoming midterm elections.

Despite initially predicting a brief conflict, Iran's resilience has kept the oil trade through the Strait of Hormuz largely disrupted, prolonging the war. Public opinion is overwhelmingly against the US involvement in Iran, with 80 percent of Americans, including 87 percent of Democrats and 71 percent of Republicans, believing the conflict will persist for an extended period. Only 16 percent of respondents expected the war to end within a few weeks.

Trump justified the high gas prices by asserting that the cost was worth it to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. However, only one in five Americans, and half of Republicans, believe the war has been justified. Concerns about the war and rising gasoline prices have contributed to Republicans' anxiety about maintaining their slim majority in the US House of Representatives during the November 3 elections.