​CNN SSRS Poll: Trump's approval ratings crash to one of the lowest in his political journey, why?

The most recent CNN/SSRS poll on US President Donald Trump’s approval rating shows that it has fallen to one of the lowest points of his political career as Americans grow increasingly dissatisfied with his handling of the Iran war, inflation, gas prices and other problems closer to home, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS.

The survey puts Trump’s overall approval rating at 34%, matching the career low recorded at the end of his first term following the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

But another number may be even more troubling for the White House: a record 73% of U.S. adults believe Trump is not paying enough attention to the country’s most important problems.


According to the CNN report, only 27% think his priorities are right.

The intensity of opposition has also increased. Half of Americans now say they strongly disapprove of Trump, while only 15% strongly approve — his weakest showing on that measure across his presidential terms.

Trump approval slips even among Republicans

Trump continues to command majority support within the Republican Party, but the latest numbers point to weakening enthusiasm among his own political base.

His approval among Republicans has fallen to 78%, a new low, according to the poll.

More strikingly, just 19% of Republicans say they are enthusiastic about the remainder of Trump’s second term. That figure stood at 38% last spring.

The broader public is even more pessimistic about the president’s connection with voters. About three-quarters of Americans say Trump is out of touch with the everyday problems confronting ordinary people.

Only 27% believe being in touch with those concerns is a description that fits him, the news outlet further reported.

Iran war emerges as major problem for Trump

The conflict with Iran has become one of Trump’s biggest political liabilities, with Americans increasingly questioning both the costs of the war and the administration’s strategy.

The report on the poll further notes that only 28% approve of Trump’s handling of the situation in Iran.

Roughly two-thirds believe his military decisions involving Iran have hurt the United States, while only about one-quarter think the war has been worth its cost in American lives and money.

Younger Americans are particularly doubtful about whether the conflict has been worth the price.

Confidence in Trump’s strategy has also deteriorated as expectations of a prolonged military confrontation grow. Only around one-quarter of Americans now believe he has a clear plan for dealing with Iran, down sharply from 40% at the beginning of the war.

The poll also finds that 62% no longer regard Trump as an effective world leader. That compares with 54% who held that view during the early months of his second term.

Gas prices and inflation deepen economic frustration

Economic dissatisfaction remains another persistent weakness for the administration, with approximately two-thirds of Americans saying Trump’s policies have made economic conditions worse.

His ratings are especially poor on prices.

CNN also said that only 25% approve of his handling of inflation, while his approval rating on gas prices falls further to 21% — the lowest of the issues measured in the poll.

The economic consequences of the Iran conflict are also increasingly being felt at the pump.

About 74% of Americans say higher gas prices are causing them at least some financial hardship. That is up from 63% in March.

Fewer than one-quarter believe Trump has a plan to deal with rising fuel costs.

Concerns stretch beyond gasoline. Some 71% say the president has not done enough to bring down the cost of everyday goods, compared with 58% who felt that way a year earlier.

Immigration no longer provides a strong political advantage

Immigration had been one of Trump’s comparatively stronger issues when he returned to the White House, but the latest survey suggests that advantage has weakened.

Only 39% of Americans now approve of his handling of immigration.

His management of the federal government receives 35% approval, while voting rights and election integrity produces his highest rating among the issues surveyed at 41%.

Recent controversies surrounding Immigration and Customs Enforcement have also affected perceptions of public safety. Following two deadly ICE shootings, Americans say by a 20-point margin that the agency is making U.S. cities less safe rather than safer.

Public opinion is even more negative when it comes to changes at federal health agencies.

Against the backdrop of a cyclospora outbreak and rising measles cases, Americans say by a 34-point margin that changes involving agencies such as the FDA and CDC have made the public less safe rather than safer.

White House renovations face public resistance

Dissatisfaction with Trump extends beyond foreign policy and the economy to some of the high-profile projects he has pursued in Washington.

The poll finds 58% of Americans are either dissatisfied or angry about construction projects undertaken by Trump in the capital, including plans for a new White House ballroom and work involving the Reflecting Pool.

Only 17% have positive feelings about the projects, while another 25% say they do not particularly care about them.

The projects are not overwhelmingly popular even among Republicans. Just 43% of GOP respondents view them positively, while 35% say they do not matter to them.

Similar concerns surround Trump’s efforts to reshape cultural institutions, including the Kennedy Center and Smithsonian. Nearly six in 10 Americans believe he has gone too far in making such changes.

Trump’s business earnings draw scrutiny

Questions surrounding Trump’s personal business interests are another source of public unease.

At the time of his second inauguration, nearly half of Americans believed it was at least somewhat likely that Trump would avoid conflicts between his presidential responsibilities and his family business.

Now, only 23% believe he has handled that issue at least somewhat well.

The poll also finds 57% consider it a bad thing that Trump earned more than $2 billion last year while serving as president, with the income including cryptocurrency holdings, royalties and property investments.

Just 7% view those earnings positively, while 36% say they do not matter much, the CNN poll showed.

More than six in 10 Americans believe Trump has gone too far in pursuing personal business interests while in office.

Republicans are considerably less concerned about the issue, with most saying his earnings as president are irrelevant. However, among GOP respondents who do express a view, more consider the earnings negative than positive.

CNN poll paints difficult picture for Trump’s second term

Taken together, the findings suggest Trump is facing discontent on several fronts at once.

The Iran war has raised doubts about his foreign policy leadership, rising gas prices are adding to existing frustration over inflation, and his ratings on immigration and government management remain underwater.

At the same time, the poll suggests the problem extends beyond individual policies. About two-thirds of Americans say Trump does not put the country’s interests ahead of his personal gain, while nearly three-quarters believe he is disconnected from the problems they encounter in daily life.

With his approval rating back at 34% and enthusiasm declining even among Republicans, the CNN/SSRS survey points to a challenging political environment for Trump as his second term continues.