A tough new poll has laid out President Trump’s latest approval numbers as Americans grapple with climbing gas prices across the US.
A mix of headline issues appears to be driving the negative sentiment, with many saying they don’t support how he has handled the cost of living, inflation, and other economic pressures.
The Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos survey, published Sunday (May 3), found that 66 percent disapprove of Trump’s handling of the Iran war, compared with 33 percent who approve.
But the sharpest criticism centers on the economy, where Trump posted his worst results in the poll.
On rising prices, just 23 percent said they approve, while 76 percent said they disapprove of his approach.
The numbers were similarly bleak on inflation and the broader economy, with 72 percent disapproving of his handling of inflation and 65 percent disapproving of how he’s managed the economy overall.
Even his tax plan drew more opposition than support, landing him a 61 percent disapproval rating.
Those figures mark a shift from earlier in the year: a comparable poll conducted in February—before the Iran war—put his approval on the economy at 41 percent.
The new polling also suggests doubts are growing about Trump’s fitness for office. According to the results, 55 percent of respondents said he is not in good enough physical condition to serve as president, while roughly six in ten said they don’t believe he has the mental sharpness required for the job.
As economic uncertainty continues—particularly around rising gas prices—Trump has attributed the strain to the Iran war and has brushed aside some of the concerns being raised.
“But I did something that was, I don’t know, foolish, brave, but it was smart,” he said at an event in Florida.
“I would do it again, but I thought the numbers would be much worse. I thought the stock market would go down much more.
“I thought the oil prices would go up much more. I said, ‘But we have no choice whether it does or doesn’t.’”
For many households, fuel costs are an immediate marker of the economy, since most workers still rely on driving to commute.
Oil prices have surged since the US and Israel began the war against Iran, and the upward pressure has persisted.
Crude is now at its highest level since 2022, with prices reportedly moving beyond $126 per barrel.
Brent crude jumped by nearly 7 percent overnight, peaking at $126.41 per barrel before later easing to $116.3 per barrel.
Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz—an essential route for transporting oil and natural gas—remains closed, and negotiations aimed at easing tensions are reported to be at a standstill.
Trump has also addressed whether drivers could see relief at the pump, telling Fox News:
“I hope so. I mean, I think so. It could be, it could be. Or the same. Or maybe a little bit higher.
“But it should be around the same, I think this won’t be that much longer.”