Trump Takes Another Hit
President Donald Trump’s approval rating has slipped again, according to a new national poll, adding to concerns for Republicans heading into the November midterm elections.
The latest Economist/YouGov survey found that just 33% of respondents approve of the way Trump is handling his job as president, while 62% disapprove. The numbers represent another difficult reading for the White House as voters continue to focus heavily on the economy, household costs and the administration’s handling of the ongoing conflict with Iran.
As expected, the poll showed a major partisan divide. Among Republican respondents, 79% said they approve of Trump’s performance. Among Democrats, that figure fell to just 4%.
The latest results also come after several other surveys showed Trump struggling to maintain majority support. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released last week found 35% approval for his handling of the presidency, while a Quinnipiac University survey released in late July put his approval at 32%.
The trend has become a growing concern for Republicans as they prepare for the midterms and attempt to hold onto control of both the House and Senate. Trump remains a central figure in the Republican Party, meaning his standing with voters could have consequences for candidates campaigning across the country.
Two issues appear particularly important in the latest polling: the war with Iran and concerns about affordability. Both subjects have divided voters, while Republican strategists have expressed concern that dissatisfaction over the economy and household expenses could create problems for the party in November.
The YouGov survey also examined how Americans view Trump on individual issues. Roughly 40% of respondents approved of his handling of immigration, while only 30% expressed confidence in his ability to deal wisely with an international crisis.
Age was another area where the president faced criticism. Fifty-three percent of those surveyed said Trump is “too old” for the presidency. That included 85% of Democratic respondents and 17% of Republicans.
The Economist/YouGov survey included 1,589 respondents questioned between Aug. 7 and Aug. 10. The poll carries a margin of error of approximately 3.2 percentage points.
The White House pushed back against the latest numbers. Spokesperson Davis Ingle defended Trump’s record, arguing that the administration is focused on jobs, inflation, housing costs and other economic priorities.
The poll is only one snapshot of public opinion, but the continued weakness in Trump’s overall approval numbers gives both parties another reason to pay close attention to the issues voters say matter most before Election Day.
