Trump’s Iran war, handling of economy and cost of living receive poor approval ratings in new poll

A new New York Times/Siena College poll suggests US President Donald Trump is facing growing political trouble as voter dissatisfaction rises over the war with Iran, the economy and the cost of living.

The survey found Trump’s approval rating falling to a second-term low while Democrats gained an early advantage ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

That marks the lowest level recorded during his second term in New York Times/Siena polling.

Nearly two-thirds of voters said Trump made the wrong decision by going to war with Iran.

Less than one-quarter of respondents believed the conflict had been worth the financial and political costs.

The survey also showed rising public frustration over inflation, gasoline prices and economic uncertainty.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the crisis contributed to rising global energy prices, with average US gasoline prices reportedly climbing above $4.50 per gallon.

According to the survey:

-64% of voters disapproved of Trump’s handling of the economy

-52% opposed further military action if diplomacy with Iran fails

-63% said presidents should not launch military action without congressional approval

Independent voters showed especially strong opposition to the war. Around three-quarters of independents said military action against Iran had been the wrong decision.

The poll found:

-69% of independents disapproved of Trump’s job performance

-47% said Trump’s policies had personally hurt them

That marks a noticeable increase from earlier polling conducted in January and fall 2025.

Nearly half of voters described the economy as “poor,” reflecting a sharp increase since January.

Only 28% of respondents said Trump was handling the cost of living well.

Consumer confidence, household debt levels and inflation concerns have reportedly worsened in recent weeks.

Even among Republicans, voters appeared divided over the economy, with many rating conditions as only “fair” or “poor.”

The poll found:

-70% of Republicans favored resuming military operations if talks with Iran fail

-73% believed the war would successfully eliminate Iran’s nuclear program

Trump’s strongest issue remains immigration, where his approval rating held relatively steady at 41%.

Still, the survey showed declining optimism even among Republican voters regarding the direction of the country and the economy.

In a hypothetical midterm matchup:

-50% of registered voters said they would support Democratic candidates

-39% said they would back Republicans

Democrats also held an 18-point lead among independent voters.

Additionally, Democratic voters appeared more energized, with respondents more likely to say they were “almost certain” to vote.

Only 26% of voters said they were satisfied with Democrats overall.

Around 44% of Democratic voters said they were unhappy with their own party.

The findings suggest that while Republicans face growing political risks tied to the Iran conflict and economic pressures, Democrats still face challenges improving their public image.

The poll was conducted in English and Spanish using live telephone interviews.

The margin of error was plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.