A new poll suggests Donald Trump is facing some of the weakest support of his presidency from within his own party, with Republican approval slipping as concerns over Iran and household costs continue to weigh on voters.
Earlier this month, Trump’s approval numbers dropped to a new low after the country’s 250th birthday celebrations. Fresh polling now indicates that his standing with Republicans has also fallen to its lowest point so far.
The survey, carried out by CNN with SSRS, found that 78 percent of Republicans approve of the way Trump is performing in office. While that remains a clear majority, it marks a significant downturn, with the conflict involving Iran and ongoing cost-of-living pressures seen as major reasons for the change. A more recent Quinnipiac poll released on July 29, 2026, found 76 percent of Republicans approve of Trump’s job performance, down slightly from 85 percent recorded by the same pollster in June.
Trump has previously addressed the economic effect of the war, and in May he told reporters:
“I don’t think about Americans’ financial situations.
“I don’t think about anybody. I think about one thing: We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”
The same poll put Trump’s overall approval rating among Americans at 34 percent, and also offered a closer look at how voters view his handling of several major issues. A Quinnipiac poll released on July 29 showed his overall approval at 32 percent, approaching his lowest marks recorded since taking office.
According to the findings, only 25 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s approach to inflation, while 21 percent support his handling of gas prices. The Quinnipiac poll found broader disapproval of Trump’s handling of key issues, including 62 percent disapproval of his handling of the economy and 58 percent disapproval of his approach to trade.
Among Republican voters, those numbers are higher, though not overwhelmingly so. Within his party, 57 percent back his handling of inflation, while 48 percent approve of the way he is dealing with gas prices. The national average for gas currently sits at $4.10 per gallon as of late July 2026, according to current energy data.
One of the most striking results was that 73 percent of Americans said Trump is not focusing on the country’s most important problems.
Across the US and elsewhere, many people are still dealing with higher grocery, fuel, and energy bills as instability in the Strait of Hormuz continues. Gas prices have risen sharply throughout 2026, jumping from $2.81 in January to peaks above $4.48 in May before moderating somewhat in recent weeks.
Even when governments say the shipping route remains open, the final decision rests with shipowners, who must weigh the risks to their vessels and crews, according to CNBC.
Commercial operators moving through the Strait of Hormuz are still contending with attacks and unpredictable security conditions.
The poll also found that just 28 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the Iran war. Among Republicans alone, that figure rises to 66 percent. The Quinnipiac poll found 66 percent of voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of the conflict with Iran, representing the lowest approval for his Iran policy since the pollster began asking the question in March.
Still, Trump struck an optimistic tone on Monday (July 27), saying he believed the conflict could move toward an end after what he described as positive talks in recent days. The administration has paused military strikes to allow for diplomatic negotiations.
Telling reporters aboard Air Force One, he said:
“I think there’s a good chance that something could happen.”
At the same time, the president made clear that his administration would not hesitate to resume earlier action if the current negotiations fail. Trump stated that the US halted strikes on Iran at the request of the nation’s regime, with Iran denying that direct negotiations are currently taking place.
Speaking with the BBC, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly noted that the US military ‘has more than enough munitions, ammo, and stockpiles to serve all of President Trump’s strategic goals and beyond, and Operation Epic Fury has exposed what happens when you mess with the United States’.
Operation Epic Fury is the name used by the US government for the campaign launched when strikes on Iran began. However, concerns about depleting US munitions stockpiles have been raised by senior military officials, with some reports suggesting that sustained military operations have drawn down supplies.