Trump’s Approval Plummets Amid Iran War, Cabinet Chaos, and Economic Pain

Donald Trump’s presidency is careening toward crisis with a record-low approval rating of 34 percent, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released April 28. His second term is defined by a toxic mix of escalating conflict with Iran, internal administration turmoil, and a cost-of-living crisis hammering everyday Americans.

The ongoing U.S. military campaign against Iran has not only drained resources—costing more than $25 billion so far—but also fueled a surge in energy prices, pushing gasoline above $4 per gallon. Inflation, measured by the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index, hit a four-year high of 3.5 percent year-on-year in March, squeezing household budgets and leaving Trump’s “America First” economic promises in tatters.

Inside the White House, chaos reigns. Trump’s loyalty-driven cabinet has seen three key resignations or dismissals since January, including Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Attorney General Pam Bondi. Meanwhile, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is embroiled in conflicts with military leadership, contributing to a fractured defense apparatus during a critical geopolitical moment.

Trump’s assault on federal agency independence continues to backfire. His attempt to criminally investigate Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for resisting politically motivated interest rate cuts was widely condemned and ultimately blocked by Congress. Courts have also curtailed Trump’s executive overreach, striking down tariffs imposed without proper authority and halting about one-third of his 400-plus executive orders.

The economic fallout from Trump’s tariff policies has been steep, with a Federal Reserve Bank of New York analysis showing that 90 percent of the costs fall on American consumers and businesses. This economic pain is reflected in public opinion: for the first time since 2010, voters favor Democrats on economic issues, and even over half of Republicans express dissatisfaction with Trump’s handling of inflation.

As the November midterms approach, Democrats are capitalizing on Trump’s failures, linking his neglect of domestic concerns to the costly and unauthorized Iran war. A Washington Post survey found that 61 percent of Americans view the military strike on Iran as a mistake, underscoring the growing political peril for the president.

Despite mounting pressure, Trump remains defiant, framing the economic instability as a necessary sacrifice for long-term security. Yet Republican lawmakers privately acknowledge that the combination of high prices and foreign entanglements threatens their electoral prospects.

With just months to go before voters head to the polls, Trump’s governance challenges signal a presidency in disarray, marked by internal conflict, legal setbacks, and a public increasingly turned against his agenda. The question now is whether he can regain control or if his unraveling will deliver a decisive blow to his party’s midterm hopes.