US Public Trust in Donald Trump Plummets

A Reuters/Ipsos poll ending on Monday (17/8) found that the approval rating for United States (US) President Donald Trump has fallen to 33%, the lowest level of his presidency, amid public concern over the US war against Iran.

Only 33% of respondents in the four-day survey said they approved of Trump’s performance in the White House, while 64% disapproved, according to the poll.

The poll showed that Trump’s approval rating, down from 35% in a survey conducted earlier this month and the lowest of his second term, now matches the lowest point of his first term, recorded in December 2017.

The latest poll was released as a 60-day negotiation period under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the US and Iran was scheduled to end on Monday, with no progress towards a broader peace agreement between the two sides. Trump has sought to ease public concerns about high fuel prices in his recent statements.

At a political rally in Garden City, New York, on Friday (14/8), Trump said that paying “a little more for your petrol” was worth the cost of ensuring that a “very evil country” cannot possess nuclear weapons.

Meanwhile, a Financial Times poll released on Sunday (16/8) showed that 53% of US voters said their situation had worsened under Trump’s leadership, amid growing dissatisfaction over his handling of the economy and the cost of living.

“Inflation is outpacing wage growth and people are struggling to pay their bills. Many feel they are falling further behind and cannot keep up with rising costs of food, fuel and healthcare,” said Darrell West, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, to Xinhua.