Trump Approval Drops to 35%! Reuters Poll: Democrats Lead Republicans on Economy for First Time in a Decade

The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals that U.S. voters, for the first time in nearly a decade, believe the Democratic Party is more capable than the Republican Party of managing the economy. At the same time, President Trump's job approval rating has declined to 35%, as rising energy prices and the ongoing conflict with Iran place increasing pressure on American households, eroding the Republican Party's traditional advantage on economic issues and introducing uncertainty into the November congressional midterm elections.

The poll was conducted from last Wednesday to this Monday and shows Trump's approval rating dropping from 37% in the previous survey to 35%, just one percentage point above his lowest mark during this term.

On economic issues, 37% of registered voters believe the Democratic Party offers better economic policies, slightly ahead of the 36% who support the Republican Party. Another 27% of respondents said they were unsure or believed another party could perform better.

This marks the first time in nearly ten years that the Reuters/Ipsos poll has shown Democrats leading on economic issues. The Republican Party had consistently held an advantage on economic management since Trump's first term (2017–2021), through the four years of Democratic former President Biden's administration, and into the early months of Trump's second term. While a Reuters/Ipsos survey in May 2017 also showed Democrats leading, the questionnaire at that time did not include options such as 'unsure' or 'other party,' making direct comparisons difficult.

The survey indicates that the Republican Party's economic advantage has steadily narrowed during Trump's current term and has now completely disappeared. Analysts suggest that ongoing military actions by the U.S. and Israel against Iran in February this year have sustained Middle East tensions, driving up international energy prices and increasing the cost of living for American families—key factors influencing voter sentiment.

Trump has stated that the military action against Iran was intended to destroy Iran's nuclear program, weaken its ability to attack regional adversaries, and create conditions for overthrowing the Iranian theocratic government. However, since the conflict began, U.S. gasoline prices have risen by over 25%, with the average price per gallon increasing by more than $1, placing significant pressure on household budgets.

If congressional elections were held today, 42% of registered voters would support Democratic candidates, compared to 37% for Republicans. Among independent voters, Democrats hold a 12-point advantage.

The Republican Party currently holds slim majorities in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The November 3 midterm elections will determine control of Congress for the next two years, making this poll a significant warning sign for Republicans.

However, national approval ratings do not always directly translate into election outcomes. Of the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, only about 30 are truly competitive. In the Senate, approximately eight seats are expected to be decisive, meaning the final results will depend on a small number of swing districts.

Facing multiple recent polls showing declining support, Trump continues to express skepticism. On Monday, before the latest poll was released, he posted on Truth Social: 'My real poll numbers aren't the fake ones made up by the fake news media—they're the best I've ever had.'

The Reuters/Ipsos national online poll surveyed 4,505 American adults, with a margin of error of ±2 percentage points.