ASIa‑Pacific News Service, Reuters released an exclusive report on Tuesday (August 18). According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Monday, US President Donald Trump’s approval rating has dropped to the lowest point of his current presidential term. Meanwhile, the vast majority of Americans fear that the war between the United States and Iran will drag on for a long time.
(Screenshot source: Reuters)
In this four‑day survey, only 33 % of respondents approved of Trump’s performance in the White House, while 64 % disapproved. This reading is down from 35 % in an earlier poll this month, marking the lowest level of his current term and matching the low recorded in December 2017 during his previous tenure.
When Trump returned to the White House in 2025, his approval stood slightly below 50 %. Since the start of this year, his public standing has suffered after he ordered strikes on Iran alongside Israel. The ensuing conflict disrupted roughly one‑fifth of global oil trade, sent gasoline prices soaring and put financial pressure on American households. It also creates steeper hurdles for Republican allies seeking to defend their congressional majority in the November mid‑term elections.
During his campaign, Trump pledged to curb inflation and avoid prolonged wars. He initially stated that hostilities with Iran might last only a few weeks. Yet Iran has proven capable of strong resistance. Even amid partial de‑escalation, oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz remain largely constrained.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll shows around 80 % of Americans — including 87 % of Democrats and 71 % of Republicans — believe US involvement in Iran “will go on for a long time”. Only 16 % of respondents expect the conflict to end within a few weeks.
Trump defends high oil prices
Speaking at a political rally in Garden City, New York last Friday, Trump argued it was worth Americans paying “a little more for gasoline” to stop “a very evil nation” from acquiring nuclear weapons, one of his core justifications for launching military action against Iran.
Throughout the conflict, Trump has alternated threats of military escalation with claims that a peace deal was imminent.
Still, the latest Reuters/Ipsos survey finds only one‑fifth of Americans think the war is worth its cost; even among Republican voters, roughly half hold that view.
War risks and rising gasoline prices have left Republicans anxious ahead of the November 3 congressional elections. Republicans hold only a slim majority in the House of Representatives, while Democrats grow increASIngly confident about competing for Senate control.
According to the monthly series of Reuters/Ipsos polls, for the first time in nearly a decade, voters lean toward the Democrats over the Republicans on economic management.
The latest poll shows 38 % of voters believe the Democrats handle economic issues better, versus 35 % backing Republican economic policies.
Furthermore, more voters regard the Democrats as more competent in tackling rising living costs.
Narrowing advantage on immigration: Republican support slips
Under Trump, Republicans have traditionally held higher approval than Democrats on immigration policy. The Trump administration enforced border controls, sharply reduced unlawful border crossings and carried out nationwide immigration enforcement operations.
That edge has shrunk, however, following deadly confrontations during enforcement and mass detentions including children.
Per the new Reuters/Ipsos poll, 40 % of registered voters say Republicans perform better on immigration policy, compared with 38 % for Democrats.
The two‑point gap represents the narrowest margin of Trump’s current term.
By comparison, back in January 2025, the Republican lead on immigration stood at 26 percentage points.
This Reuters/Ipsos online poll collected responses from 1,166 adults across the United States, with a margin of error of approximately plus or minus three percentage points.
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