Trump's approval rating drops over economy, Iran war in new poll

Amid rising discontent over the economy and the Iran war, President Donald Trump's second term approval rating reached a new low in a survey that could be a significant warning for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections.

The NBC News Decision Desk poll, released April 19, found that 63% of adults disapprove of Trump’s performance as president. That's his lowest mark from the outlet since he retook office in January 2025. Another 37% of adults said they approve of Trump.

The poll was conducted March 30 to April 13 among a national sample of 32,433 adults ages 18 and over. The margin of error is ± 1.8 percentage points.

The downturn in the president's job approval is largely attributable to souring opinions about the state of the nation's economy and the progression of the United States' joint war on Iran, according to the outlet.

Other recent polls measured a similar drop led by negative views on the economy and the ongoing war that sprung a widening conflict in the Middle East.

In the New York Times' daily average of polls, the president's aggregated approval rating sits at 40%, with a majority 56% disapproval number. Recent polling has shown most Americans disapprove of the Iran war, while unhappiness over the economy and affordability have hounded Trump for several months.

As in several polls conducted over the past year, the economy ranked as the number one issue for voters. Twenty-nine percent said it’s the issue that matters most, followed by 24% who said it was threats to democracy.

Less than one-third, 32%, of Americans said in the new poll they approve of Trump’s handling of inflation and the cost of living. Another 68% said they disapprove. A majority of Americans also said in the poll, at 52%, that they "strongly disapprove" of Trump’s handling of the issue. It's a 7-point jump from the last time NBC News Decision Desk asked the question, in August 2025.

On the subject of the Iran war, two-thirds of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the conflict, at 67%. Just one-third, 33%, said they approve. Further, 54% specified they "strongly disapprove," compared to the 19% who said they "strongly approve" of the war.

The survey also found a new low when it comes to the nation's direction. A little over two-thirds, or 67%, of respondents said the United States is on the wrong track. It's a two-point increase from when the pollster asked the same question in their last survey ending in early February. Another 33%, about one-third, said the country is on the right track.

Kathryn Palmer is a politics reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at[email protected] and on X @KathrynPlmr. Sign up for her daily politics newsletterhere.