President Donald Trump’s disapproval rating has climbed to its highest level yet, according to a newly released national survey, with voters citing concerns over rising costs, inflation, and the ongoing conflict with Iran.
The ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll, published Friday, found that 62 percent of Americans disapprove of the president’s performance. That marks a 2-point increase since February, with respondents pointing to affordability issues and economic pressures as key factors shaping their views.
A large majority of those surveyed—72 percent—said they disapprove of how Trump is handling inflation, up 7 points from two months earlier. By contrast, 27 percent expressed approval, while 1 percent did not respond.
On the broader issue of living costs, dissatisfaction was even more pronounced. Seventy-six percent of respondents said they disapprove of Trump’s handling of the cost of living in the United States, compared to 23 percent who said they approve. Another 1 percent declined to answer.
Trump has previously insisted that he “won” the issue of affordability” and has argued that inflation tied to the war would be temporary.
Despite those claims, many respondents indicated they are feeling the impact of higher fuel prices and increased energy costs, which have climbed during the Iran conflict. Core inflation also rose to 3.5 percent in March, the highest level in two years.
The poll also found that 66 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump’s management of the Iran war, while 33 percent approve. One percent of those surveyed did not answer the question.
Diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran remain uncertain, even as most U.S. ground operations overseas have largely wound down.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Trump said the United States has received a new proposal from Iran aimed at ending the conflict, though he voiced doubt about its viability.
“I’ll let you know about it later,” he said, adding that “they’re going to give me the exact wording now.”
At the same time, tensions have surfaced between the United States and its allies, with Trump criticizing several countries for what he described as insufficient support during the Middle East conflict. Some European nations have voiced opposition to the U.S. military campaign.
In response, Trump announced plans to reduce the American troop presence in Germany.
“We are going to cut way down, and we’re cutting a lot further than 5,000,” Trump told reporters Saturday.
According to the survey, 65 percent of respondents said they believe Trump is handling relations with U.S. allies poorly amid these disputes.
The poll was conducted among 2,560 adults across the United States and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.
{Matzav.com}
