President Trump’s approval rating has reached its lowest level recorded in a Times/Siena survey. Over the past decade, it has been often noted that Trump’s support exhibits a low ceiling but a high floor.
The latest New York Times/Siena poll raises questions about whether Trump maintains this high floor. Only 37 percent of Americans approve of his performance as president, marking a decrease of four percentage points from the last survey in January. This is his lowest approval rating recorded in any Times/Siena survey during his terms.
A decline of four points may not seem substantial, but it places Trump’s approval ratings in a new political realm. While past presidencies have been unpopular and polarizing, no president’s approval has dipped below 38 percent for more than a few days in the last 17 years, according to averages. If there was a floor during this partisan political era, Trump’s current ratings have reached it.
Though it remains uncertain whether issues like the war in Iran and rising gas prices will further break Trump’s support, these issues evidently have the potential to push his approval ratings lower. Only 28 percent of voters approve of his handling of the cost of living, and just 31 percent support his approach to the war. A mere 30 percent believe he made the right choice in attacking Iran.
The immediate political consequence points to an advantageous position for Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections in November. The poll reveals Democrats holding a significant lead, 50 percent to 39 percent, when asking registered voters which party’s candidate they plan to support for Congress. This marks a notable change from earlier Times/Siena polls in the election cycle, which previously showed Democrats leading by two to five points.
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