US President Donald Trump’s approval rating remained close to the lowest level of his political career, with growing concerns over the cost of living weighing on his standing after the Republican Party’s losses in last week’s midterm elections.According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted online across the US from November 6 to 9, 32 per cent of Americans approved of Trump’s performance as president. The figure was unchanged from two previous Reuters/Ipsos polls conducted between late October and early November, and one percentage point above his career-low rating of 31 per cent recorded in mid-October.The poll surveyed 1,705 US adults and had a margin of error of approximately two percentage points.Trump’s Republicans suffered losses in both chambers of Congress in the November 3 midterm elections.Although some races remain undecided, Democrats recorded their biggest House of Representatives victory since at least 2008 and flipped Senate seats in traditionally conservative states, including Kansas, South Carolina and Texas.
Cost of living weighs on Trump’s approval
The poll found that only 21 per cent of Americans approved of Trump’s handling of the cost of living, an issue that has emerged as a major concern for voters, Reuters reported.The war launched by the US President against Iran in February has sharply increased fuel prices and added pressure on household finances, according to the report.Trump’s rating on the economy stood at 25 per cent, higher than his approval on the cost of living but well below his rating on immigration.
Immigration remains a stronger area
However, Trump’s approval rating on immigration policy stood at 38 per cent, considerably higher than his ratings on economic issues.Among Republican respondents, 81 per cent backed his approach to immigration, compared with 50 per cent who approved of his handling of the cost of living.Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has significantly expanded deportations of immigrants. Last week, he promoted Stephen Miller, a key architect of his immigration policies, to the position of White House chief of staff.