Trump’s approval drops to 33%, lowest level of second term

A Reuters/Ipsos survey released on Monday (Aug. 17, 2026) shows that the approval rating of the President of the United States, Donald Trump (Republican Party), fell to the lowest level of his current term. Only 33% of respondents said they approved of his performance in the White House, while 64% disapproved.

Approval dropped from the 35% recorded in a previous survey, completed at the beginning of August. The number ties with the historic low of Trump’s first term, reached in December 2017.

The research was carried out online. Interviewed 1,166 American adults across the country. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

The drop in popularity is linked to the war against Iran, ordered in February by Trump in conjunction with Israel. The conflict paralyzed 1/5 of global oil trade and caused a rise in gasoline prices, putting pressure on North American families. Republicans seeking to maintain their majorities in the House and Senate in the November 3 midterm elections are also feeling the political effects of higher fuel prices.

Also according to the survey, 8 in 10 Americans believe that US involvement in the war against Iran will continue: 80% of those interviewed, including 87% of Democrats and 71% of Republicans, consider that the conflict “It will last for an extended period.”. Only 16% believe it will end in a few weeks.

According to the survey, 1 in 5 respondents believe that the war was worth it. Among Republicans, the proportion reaches half.

Trump had promised during the campaign that he would avoid long wars and keep inflation under control. When announcing the US entry into the conflict, he said the conflict would only last a few weeks. Iran, however, showed resistance and kept the Strait of Hormuz practically blocked for oil trade, even after the fighting subsided.

Concern about war and fuel prices affected voters’ perception of economic management. For the first time in almost 10 years, the Reuters/Ipsos poll shows that voters prefer Democrats over Republicans to manage the economy.

The survey indicates that 38% of voters consider Democrats more capable of dealing with the economy, compared to 35% who prefer the Republican approach. Democrats are also seen as better prepared to control the cost of living.

On immigration, Republicans still lead, but the margin has shrunk. 40% of registered voters said Republicans have the best approach to immigration, compared to 38% who chose Democrats.

The 2 percentage point difference is the smallest of Trump’s term. In January 2025, Republicans led by 26 points. The erosion is due to violent clashes and an increase in the number of detainees, including children.