US President Donald Trump's standing with Americans has slipped to its lowest point of the current presidency, as concerns grow that the war with Iran could become a prolonged conflict, a The four-day survey showed 33% of respondents approving of Trump's performance, compared with 64% who disapproved. Trump's approval rating has fallen from 35% in the previous poll earlier this month, matching the lowest level recorded during his first presidency in December 2017.
After returning to the White House last year with just under half the country approving of his presidency, Trump's popularity this year took a hit after he ordered strikes on Iran alongside US ally Israel. The ensuing conflict paralysed a fifth of the global oil trade, triggering a surge in the price of gasoline, which is weighing on US households - and on Trump's Republican allies defending congressional majorities in November midterm elections.
Trump, who campaigned on promises to keep inflation in check and avoid long-lasting wars, initially pledged the conflict with Iran would take a few weeks, and argued the war was the only way to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon that could threaten the world. But Iran has proved resilient and has kept the oil trade through the Strait of Hormuz largely bottled up even as the conflict has cooled.
Some 80% of Americans - including 87% of Democrats and 71% of Republicans - think US involvement in Iran "will go on for an extended period of time," the Just 16% said the conflict would likely end in a few weeks.