President Donald Trump’s economic approval rating has fallen to a record low, slipping below even the weakest mark recorded during Joe Biden’s presidency, according to a new national poll.
Newsweek contacted the White House via email outside of regular business hours for comment.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle told Newsweek in a previous emailed statement: “The ultimate poll was November 5, 2024, when nearly 80 million Americans overwhelmingly elected President Trump to deliver on his popular and common-sense agenda.”
Why It Matters
The numbers arrive at a fragile moment, with the 2026 midterms approaching and voter anxiety rising over both foreign policy and household costs.
An escalating war with Iran and a sharp jump in gas prices are colliding with long‑running concerns about affordability, testing Trump’s central economic message.
What To Know
Only 29 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll, marking the lowest economic approval rating across either of his presidential terms.
That figure also undercuts the worst economic approval rating ever recorded for his Democratic predecessor, Biden, whose low point stood at 32 percent, according to this pollster.
The finding underscores a sharp erosion in confidence on an issue that has long been central to Trump’s political appeal.
Voters’ concerns about the economy—particularly the rising cost of living—played a major role in Biden’s 2024 defeat, and Trump campaigned heavily on a promise to restore prosperity and build what he described as a vibrant economy.
Instead, public frustration appears to be deepening. Just one in four respondents, 25 percent, said they approve of Trump’s handling of the cost of living, a measure closely tied to everyday expenses such as food, rent and fuel.
Overall Approval Rating Hits Second-Term Low
Overall approval of Trump’s job performance has also slid. The same poll found that 36 percent of Americans approve of his performance as president, down from 40 percent a week earlier and the lowest level since he returned to the White House.
Rising fuel prices are a key factor. Gasoline costs have jumped by roughly a dollar a gallon since the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran in late February, disrupting oil shipments from the Middle East and pushing energy prices higher worldwide.
Sustained increases at the pump tend to spill over into the broader economy, driving up prices across multiple sectors.
Economic pessimism now cuts across party lines. About 63 percent of Americans described the U.S. economy as either “somewhat weak” or “very weak,” including 40 percent of Republicans, two‑thirds of independents and more than eight in 10 Democrats.
Foreign policy concerns are adding to the pressure. Approval of U.S. strikes on Iran, dubbed Operation Epic Fury by the White House, has fallen to 35 percent, while a growing majority of Americans disapprove of the military action.
Nearly half of respondents said the conflict would make the country less safe in the long run.
Within Trump’s own party, support remains relatively firm but shows signs of strain.
Roughly one in five Republicans disapprove of his overall performance, while disapproval of his handling of the cost of living among Republicans has climbed sharply in recent days.
The four‑day, nationwide online poll was conducted March 20-23, 2026, surveying 1,272 U.S. adults, with a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
What People Are Saying
White House spokesman Davis Ingle told Newsweek in a previous emailed statement: “The ultimate poll was November 5, 2024, when nearly 80 million Americans overwhelmingly elected President Trump to deliver on his popular and common-sense agenda.
“The president has already made historic progress not only in America, but around the world. It is not surprising that President Trump remains the most dominant figure in American politics.”
A White House official previously told Newsweek: “Polling shows President Trump’s decision to launch Operation Epic Fury has Americans’ support—with MAGA and Republicans strongly supporting it.
“Despite some online commentators with large followings publicly disagreeing with the president’s decision—and many legacy media outlets eagerly highlighting their comments to try and sow division—the MAGA base is not wavering one bit.”
President Donald Trump said last week: “When this is over, oil prices are going to go down very, very rapidly. So is inflation. So is everything else.
“But frankly, much more important than short-term or even long-term oil prices: You cannot let the most violent, vicious country in the last 50 years have a nuclear weapon.”
Brett Loyd, a polling and research specialist for the Independent Center, told Newsweek: “It’s tough to win a national midterm when independents view your primary brand as a deal-breaker. That’s not to say Democrats are doing anything incredible to court the center; it’s just that Republicans are doing a remarkably efficient job of shedding them.”
What Happens Next
Attention now turns to whether fuel prices ease and whether tensions with Iran de-escalate in the coming weeks.
Both developments are likely to shape voter sentiment as campaigns ramp up and lawmakers sharpen their economic and national security messaging ahead of November.
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