Donald Trump’s latest job approval rating has fallen to its lowest point in his second term, showing that many Americans are unhappy with the way things are going. A new NBC News Decision Desk Poll powered by SurveyMonkey found that only 37% of adults approve of his performance, while 63% disapprove.
This sharp level of dissatisfaction comes at a time when families are struggling with rising prices and when the war with Iran is creating more worry across the country. Even though Trump still has strong support from many Republican voters, the poll shows cracks beginning to appear, especially on issues like inflation and foreign policy.
Trump’s approval rating falls to a new low
The poll shows that public opinion has turned more negative for Trump in recent months. Only 37% of American adults said they approve of the way he is doing his job as president. On the other hand, 63% said they disapprove, and half of them said they disapprove strongly.
This is the lowest approval rating Trump has received in NBC News Decision Desk polling during his second term. It also shows that many people are not happy with the direction of the country. Around two-thirds of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track, while only one-third feel it is moving in the right direction.
This kind of public mood can become a major challenge for Republicans, especially as they prepare to protect their control in Congress during the midterm elections. When people feel unhappy about the economy and national leadership, it often affects how they vote.
Rising inflation remains the biggest concern
The economy is still the most important issue for American voters. In the poll, 29% of people said the economy matters most to them right now. After that came threats to democracy at 24%, health care at 12%, and crime and safety at 10%.
But when people were asked which economic issue worried them the most, inflation and the rising cost of living came far ahead of everything else. A huge 45% picked inflation as their main concern.
Trump’s ratings on this issue are weak. Only 32% of Americans said they approve of how he is handling inflation and the cost of living, while 68% said they disapprove. More than half said they strongly disapprove.
This tells us that everyday money problems are hitting families hard. For many people, things like groceries, rent, transport, and fuel are becoming more difficult to manage. The poll also found that 40% of Americans feel their personal financial situation is worse than it was a year ago. Only 19% said they are doing better financially.
That is an important warning sign for any government, because when people feel pressure in their daily lives, they often blame the leadership in power.
Personal finances and gas prices are hurting families
The survey gives a clearer picture of how people are feeling about their own money situation. Republicans were more likely than Democrats and independents to say they are financially better off than last year. Even then, only 34% of Republicans said they are doing better. Among Democrats and independents, the feeling was even more negative.
Many Americans are also worried about gas prices. Nearly two-thirds said fuel costs have been a problem for them and their family. Around 29% called it a serious problem, while 36% said it is somewhat serious.
This issue affects working-class households more strongly. Blue-collar workers and those with lower education levels were more likely to say rising gas prices are causing trouble. This makes sense because these groups often spend a bigger part of their income on travel, transport, and basic living costs.
Public opposition grows over the Iran war
Another major reason for Trump’s falling support is the conflict with Iran. The poll found that two-thirds of Americans disapprove of his handling of the war, while only one-third approve.
Even after Trump announced a temporary ceasefire on April 7, public opinion did not improve much. That means the ceasefire did not change people’s larger concerns about American involvement in the conflict.
A majority of Americans clearly want less military action. About 61% said the United States should not take any further military action in Iran. Only 23% said all options, including ground forces, should remain open. Another 16% said military action should continue only through airstrikes.
Young people are even more strongly against more war. Among Americans under the age of 30, about 74% said the U.S. should not take any further military action in Iran.
This part of the poll matters because Trump had earlier promised to keep America away from foreign entanglements. Many voters may now feel that promise is not being followed.
Republican support remains strong, but weakens slightly
Trump still has strong support from his base, but the numbers show some softening. In the new poll, 83% of Republicans gave him a positive approval rating. That is still a large majority, but it is 4 points lower than the previous NBC News Decision Desk poll.
The number of Republicans who strongly approve of Trump also dropped, from 58% earlier this year to 52% now. This may look small, but such changes can become politically important over time.
On Iran, there is also a noticeable difference inside the Republican base. While 74% of Republicans approve of Trump’s handling of the war, 26% disapprove. That is a higher disapproval number than Trump’s overall disapproval among Republicans.
At the same time, his most loyal MAGA supporters continue to back him heavily. According to the poll, 87% of those who identify with the MAGA movement approve of how he is handling the Iran conflict.
Some improvement on immigration
Immigration is one area where Trump has seen a slight recovery. Earlier this year, his ratings on immigration dropped sharply after federal immigration officials shot and killed two U.S. citizens in Minnesota.
Since then, the administration has signalled some changes. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was removed, and Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino was also taken out of his post. ICE detention and arrest numbers have come down since February, though more than 60,000 people still remain in custody.
The new poll found that 44% of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of border security and immigration, while 56% disapprove. That is still a negative rating overall, but it is a 4-point improvement from the start of the year.
Also, the number of people who strongly disapprove of Trump on immigration has fallen from 49% to 42%. So while he is still underwater on the issue, the situation looks a little better for him than before.
Americans strongly support voter ID laws
Trump is also pushing for major changes in voting laws through the SAVE America Act. The bill would require voters to show government-issued photo ID and proof of citizenship. The House has passed it, but it does not currently have enough support in the Senate.
On this issue, public support appears much stronger. The poll found that three-quarters of Americans support requiring voters to show a government-issued photo ID in order to vote.
Among those who support voter ID, 61% said the documents should also include proof of citizenship. The remaining 39% said identity proof alone should be enough.
This shows that while Trump is facing negative views on inflation and Iran, some of his ideas on election laws still connect with a large part of the public.
