Trump's Approval Rating Sinks as Gas Prices Soar and Iran War Weighs on Americans

More than a year and a half into his second term, President Donald Trump is struggling to win over the American public — a new war, rising prices at the pump, and growing unease among his own voters are making that task harder by the day. 

Trump's net approval rating stands at -22 as of June 22nd, meaning 59% of Americans disapprove of the job he's doing. That figure has barely moved in recent weeks, holding flat even as the administration navigates a significant foreign policy moment.

Why the Numbers Are Sliding 

Many Americans who were already uneasy about the direction of the country have watched economic relief fail to materialize, and their patience is running thin. For voters who gave Trump the benefit of the doubt heading into his second term, the combination of a new war and rising prices has proved to be a hard sell — and the polling reflects that skepticism in real time. 

Inflation and prices remain the top concern for American adults overall, cited by 32% of respondents regardless of party — and nearly equally so by both Democrats and Republicans. The economy and jobs come in second. While an Emerson poll found that a majority of voters — 53% — view U.S. military action in Iran as more of a failure.

The Iran War Isn't Helping

President Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17 to pause hostilities, and the two countries have since begun talks about a longer-term peace deal. But that development has done little to shift public opinion in Trump's favor. According to the tracker, roughly 54% of Americans say going to war with Iran was the wrong decision to begin with, and only 16% believe the Strait of Hormuz — a critical waterway for global oil shipping — will remain permanently open as a result of the conflict.

The war has also hit Americans directly in their wallets. Before fighting broke out, gas prices were actually trending downward — the national average in the final week of February 2026 was $2.96 per gallon, nearly 5% lower than the same period in 2025. The monthly average then surged to $4.48 per gallon in May 2026, up from $4.10 in April and $3.64 in March. Trump's net approval rating on inflation and prices has since dropped to -43 — the lowest point of his current term.