President Trump’s approval ratings have hit new lows shortly before this year’s midterms, according to fresh polls from The New York Times/Siena University and CNN.
In the Times/Siena poll, 36 percent of respondents said they either “strongly approve” or “somewhat approve” of Trump’s job performance, while 59 percent said they either “somewhat disapprove” or “strongly disapprove.” Five percent didn’t respond or were unsure. The Times reported Tuesday that Trump’s 36 percent approval was a record low for all Times/Siena polls.
In the CNN poll, 32 percent of respondents said they approved of Trump’s job performance, while 67 percent said they disapproved. CNN also reported Tuesday that Trump’s approval rating in the poll was historically low.
The Polling Average
Both polls come less than two weeks out from this year’s midterms, in which Trump and Republicans are facing an uphill battle due to issues like the unpopular Iran war, concerns about the cost of living, gas prices, and the president’s own unpopularity.
According to a polling average from Decision Desk HQ, Trump’s approval rating was sitting at 39.2 percent on Wednesday morning, while his disapproval rating was 59.1 percent.
The Economic Pain
Energy concerns are a key issue in this year’s midterms, with the Strait of Hormuz closed amid the Iran war. The strait’s closure has driven up oil and gas prices, with the average cost of a gallon of regular gas in the US at about $4.26 on Wednesday morning, up from about $3.05 last year at the same time.
That is a 40 percent increase in a single year. Voters feel it every time they fill their tanks.
The Poll Details
The CNN poll took place from October 15 to 18, featuring 1,701 people with a margin of error of 2.9 percentage points. The Times/Siena poll took place from October 12 to 19 and featured 3,494 voters with a margin of error of 1.9 percentage points.
The Bottom Line
President Trump’s approval rating has hit record lows in two major polls just days before the midterm elections. The Times/Siena poll shows 36 percent approval, while CNN shows 32 percent. The polls reflect voter anger over the Iran war, rising gas prices, and the cost of living. Republicans face an uphill battle as they try to hold Congress.
My Opinion
Two weeks before the midterms, the president of the United States is polling at 36 percent. In some surveys, he is at 32. Those are not numbers a party wants to defend. They are numbers a party runs from.
The economy is the reason. Gas is $4.26 a gallon, up from $3.05 a year ago. The Iran war has closed the Strait of Hormuz, prices are climbing, and voters are angry. They are not angry about abstract policy. They are angry about the cost of filling their tanks and feeding their families. And they are taking it out on the man in the White House.
Trump’s approval rating has been underwater for months. Republicans knew this was coming. They watched him pick fights with his own party, endorse risky candidates, and focus on personal grievances while the economy burned. They said nothing and now they are paying the price.
