Trump's Approval Fell From 37% Last Month to 35%, Just One Point Above His Term's Lowest

For the first time in nearly a decade, Americans trust Democrats more than Republicans to handle the economy, according to a new /Ipsos poll that also shows President Donald Trump's approval rating slipping to 35%. The survey, conducted Wednesday through Monday, suggests Trump's economic handling could become a major issue ahead of November's midterm elections, when control of Congress is at stake. Trump's approval fell from 37% last month to 35%, just one point above his term's lowest.

Asked which party would better manage the economy, 37% of registered voters chose Democrats, versus 36% for Republicans, with 27% unsure or preferring another party. Republicans had held the advantage through most of Trump's first term, Biden's presidency, and early in Trump's current term. While a 2017 /Ipsos poll also showed Democrats ahead, that survey used different wording and lacked an "unsure" option.

The GOP's edge has narrowed as Americans face higher living costs, including a 25% rise in gasoline prices—more than $1 extra per gallon—following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February. Trump said the strikes aimed to dismantle Iran's nuclear program, curb its regional influence, and enable regime change. Democrats also lead the generic congressional ballot, with 42% of registered voters backing a Democratic candidate versus 37% for a Republican, and independents favoring Democrats by 12 points.

Republicans defend narrow majorities in both chambers, though only about three dozen House races and roughly eight Senate contests are expected to be highly competitive. Trump has rejected such polls, writing on Truth Social: My REAL Polling Numbers, not those made up by the Fake News Media, are the best they have ever been. The poll surveyed 4,505 U.S. adults with a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.