Overview
- Trump’s handling of the economy fell to a career‑low 31% approval in Wednesday’s CNN/SSRS poll, with overall job approval at 35% near his all‑time CNN low.
- Additional late‑March polls show second‑term lows overall, including 35% in The Economist/YouGov, 33% in the UMass Amherst survey, and 43% in Harris/HarrisX.
- Gas prices have topped $4 a gallon since the February 28 strikes on Iran, and most households in the CNN poll report financial strain, with many cutting spending or driving less.
- Support has weakened among key groups such as independents and parts of Trump’s 2024 coalition, and CNN finds fewer Republicans now say they “strongly” approve of his performance.
- The White House downplays the polls and cites the 2024 result, while analysts warn that sustained sub‑40 approval and base softening could weigh on GOP prospects in the 2026 midterms.