Trump faces voter frustration on economy, Iran: poll
President Donald Trump's approval rating remains stuck in the 30s, according to a new Washington Post/Ipsos poll, as most Americans disapprove of his handling of the economy, the Iran conflict and the country's overall direction.
The poll, conducted July 8-13 among 2,648 adults, found 37% approve of Trump's job performance while 61% disapprove. It also showed deep skepticism about his approach to Iran and growing economic anxiety, with majorities criticizing his handling of both issues.
Only 31% of Americans said they believe U.S. military actions and negotiations will prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, according to the poll. The survey also found 69% disapprove of Trump's handling of the Iran conflict, while 29% approve.
Economy remains a drag for Trump
Economic concerns continue to weigh heavily on voters' views of the president.
The poll found 65% of respondents disapprove of Trump's handling of the economy. Just 20% said they expect economic conditions to improve over the next year, while nearly half said they believe conditions will get worse.
More than a year into Trump's return to the White House, 43% of Americans said they are not as well off financially as they were when he became president. That is similar to the 42% who said the same during former President Joe Biden's time in office.
What is Trump's approval average?
Trump's approval rating has been net negative for more than a year and has trended more negative in recent months, according to several polling averages.
Here is where his average approval rating stood as of July 16:
- RealClearPolitics Poll Average: 41% approve, 56.4% disapprove
- New York Times: 39% approve, 58% disapprove
- Silver Bulletin: 39.7% approve, 57% disapprove
USA TODAY's Kinsey Crowley contributed to this report.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump faces voter frustration on economy, Iran: poll
Reporting by Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY / USA TODAY
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This story was originally published July 16, 2026 at 6:59 PM.