Trump’s Approval Rating Hits Record Low in Second Term Amid Inflation, Iran Concerns

President Donald Trump’s approval rating has dropped to its lowest level since the start of his second term, according to the latest NBC News Decision Desk Poll.

The poll, released on Sunday, shows that only 37% of American adults approve of Trump’s performance as president. Meanwhile, 63% disapprove, including 50% who disapprove strongly.

Inflation and Cost of Living Drive Strong Disapproval

Inflation and rising costs remain a major concern for voters. Among the over 32,000 American adults surveyed by NBC News over two weeks in March and April:

• 52% said they “strongly disapprove” of Trump’s handling of inflation and the cost of living.
• 16% said they “somewhat disapprove.”

This represents a significant jump from last summer. In August, 45% of respondents said they “strongly disapprove” of Trump’s inflation policies—a 7-percentage-point increase from the latest poll.

Trump Loses Support Among Republicans on Inflation

The NBC poll also indicates that Trump is losing ground within his own party. Since last summer, the number of Republicans who approve of his handling of inflation has dropped by 10 percentage points—from 83% to 73%.

Overall support among Republicans has also declined. In just two months, Trump’s approval rating among Republicans fell from 87% to 83%.

Personal Finances Worsen for Many Americans

Inflation’s impact is reflected in personal finances. 40% of NBC poll respondents said their financial situation is worse now than a year ago—the highest percentage recorded by the network during Trump’s second term.

Americans Overwhelmingly Oppose Trump’s Iran Policy

Nearly two-thirds of Americans disapprove of Trump’s approach to Iran, according to the NBC poll. This disapproval persists even after the U.S. government announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran in April. The ceasefire agreement is set to expire this week.

Border Security Sees Slight Improvement in Approval

There is one area where Trump’s approval has ticked upward: immigration and border security. The latest poll shows 44% of Americans approve of his handling of the issue—a 4-percentage-point increase from a survey conducted in late January and early February.

This improvement coincides with Trump’s removal of Border Patrol commander-at-large Greg Bovino in late January and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in March.

Record-High ICE Detainee Deaths Raise Concerns

Meanwhile, a report from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University reveals troubling data on immigration enforcement:

• As of April 4, over 60,000 people are being detained by ICE.
• 70% of these detainees have no criminal convictions.
• Since October, 29 immigrants have died in ICE custody—a new annual record, according to NPR.

Midterm Elections Could Be Impacted by Declining Approval

With the midterm elections approaching this fall, sustained drops in Trump’s approval ratings could influence key races nationwide. Many voters may view the elections as a referendum on the failures of his administration.