Trump approval falls to record low as Democrats widen lead

U.S. President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to its lowest level across both of his terms in office. Democrats have also widened their lead over Republicans ahead of the congressional elections scheduled for Nov. 3. AnewZ reported the findings of a Reuters/Ipsos poll that concluded on Monday.

Thirty-one percent of Americans surveyed said they approved of Trump’s performance as president, down 1 percentage point from two weeks earlier.

Democrats lead by 12 points in congressional elections

Forty-seven percent of registered voters said they would vote for Democrats if congressional elections were held today, while 35% said they would vote for Republicans. The Democrats’ 12-point lead is the widest recorded in the current election cycle. In the previous poll, the lead was 7 points.

The results could strengthen Democrats’ hopes of taking control of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Losing a majority in either chamber would make it harder for Republicans to advance Trump’s agenda during the final two years of his term.

Support for Democratic candidates was higher among women: 50% said they would vote for Democrats, compared with 32% for Republicans. Men also favored Democrats, but by a narrower margin.

Nationwide polls measuring party preference offer a broad picture of voter sentiment, but do not fully reflect state- and district-level races that determine control of Congress. Republicans retain certain structural advantages in those contests.

Iran war and rising fuel prices weigh on Trump’s approval

Trump’s approval rating came under pressure after he ordered military strikes on Iran alongside Israel in February. The war has driven fuel prices sharply higher and increased the financial burden on households.

Sixty-eight percent of respondents said they disapproved of Trump’s handling of the economy. Republicans accounted for 37% of that group. Asked which party would manage the economy better, 40% of respondents chose Democrats and 33% chose Republicans.

The online poll surveyed 1,679 people living in the United States, including 1,279 registered voters. The margin of error was 2 percentage points for all respondents and 3 percentage points for registered voters.

Midterm elections in the United States give voters an opportunity to influence the government’s direction between presidential elections. They determine control of Congress, as well as many state and local offices, and their results affect legislation, budgets and public policy. Midterms are also seen as a way for the public to express its views on the incumbent leadership and its priorities.