Trump Approval Rises From Record Low as Republicans Face Congressional Headwinds

A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows that President Donald Trump's public approval rating has risen to 35 percent, up from a record low of 33 percent recorded between August 28 and 31. Despite this slight increase, the outlook for the Republican Party appears to be declining. In a generic ballot poll, 44 percent of respondents picked Democrats and 37 percent picked Republicans, marking the widest gap since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.

The survey of 1,143 Americans, which carries a margin of error of 3 percentage points, indicates that Republicans have lost their longtime edge as the better party for economic policy. Voters now prefer Democrats over Republicans as stewards of the economy by a margin of 38 percent to 37 percent. This shift follows the start of a war on Iran in February, which disrupted oil shipments and pushed fuel prices near record highs.

Public reaction to specific policy proposals and projects remains polarized. Sixty three percent of Americans disapproved of Trump's convention speech offer to provide a 5,000 dollar dividend to all Americans if Republicans retain control of Congress. Additionally, 91 percent of Democrats opposed Trump's construction projects in the US capital, while one in four Republicans expressed opposition. Two thirds of all respondents viewed these construction projects as a low priority.