President Donald Trump has hit a new approval low, with only a third of Americans approving of his handling of the economy, according to a new PBS News/NPR/Marist poll.
The poll, released June 18, showed that about 60% of Americans disapproved of how Trump has handled the economy, while only 33% approved. That low mark represents the worst economic approval rating Trump has ever seen in a Marist poll.
Overall, Trump’s approval rating has continued to slide, with only 39% of Americans approving of his overall performance — the lowest of his second administration, according to Marist.
The nationwide poll, which interviewed 1,340 adults, was conducted between June 8 and June 11, with a margin of error of ±3 percentage points.
Gas Prices Strain Households
According to AAA, average gas prices in the United States have dropped about 40 cents per gallon from their wartime peak. Despite the drop, 34% of Americans told Marist that gas prices are a “major strain.”
The pain at the pump has also affected summer travel, with 45% of respondents saying they were not planning to take a summer vacation in 2026. Of those not going on vacations, two-thirds said cost had at least some impact on their plans.
Earlier this month, Trump said fuel prices are “not very high, relatively speaking,” while discussing the US-Iran war, which led to a spike in gas costs. On June 10, at the time of the president’s comments, the average price per gallon for regular gasoline was $4.15, down from $4.52 the month prior, but still well above the $3.12 average during the same time last year.
Inflation and the Iran War
Trump announced a 14-point US-Iran agreement this week, which he said will end hostilities and the war that began in late February. It is unclear how the end of the war will immediately affect gas prices, but the pact does lay out conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a 21-mile-wide shipping channel that carries about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas.
Earlier this month, Trump brushed off concerns over the sharp increase in consumer prices, saying, “I love the inflation.” His comments were in response to a question about the Labor Department’s latest Consumer Price Index, which found prices were up 4.2% in May over the previous year — the first time inflation climbed above 4% since 2023, marking the largest increase in three years.
“No, I love it. The numbers were great,” Trump said June 10. “Because as soon as this war is over ‒ you know, I can say it now, something you didn’t know.”
Broader Polling Trends
Trump’s sliding numbers come about two weeks after the president hit similar lows in a poll conducted by The Economist and YouGov, which showed about 61% of Americans disapproved of his job performance. Trump’s net job approval in that poll was at around -26%, the lowest seen in an Economist/YouGov poll in either of Trump’s terms.
Trump’s net approval also reached historic lows in the newest Marist poll, tying May’s record of -23%. His approval rating has been net negative for roughly a year and has trended more negative in recent months.
The Bottom Line
President Trump’s economic approval rating has hit a new low at 33% in a PBS News/NPR/Marist poll, with 60% of Americans disapproving. Overall approval has slipped to 39%. Gas prices remain a major strain for 34% of Americans, and 45% are skipping summer vacations due to cost. Trump’s comments downplaying inflation and gas prices, along with the lingering impact of the Iran war, appear to be taking a toll on his standing with voters as the midterm elections approach.
