El Ciudadano
Original article: La guerra con Irán le pasa la cuenta a Trump: aprobación cae a 33% y 80% teme un conflicto largo
President Donald Trump’s approval rating in the United States has significantly dropped to just 33%, with an alarming 80% of citizens fearing the nation is entangled in a drawn-out conflict with Iran that shows no signs of resolution.
This revelation comes from the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, with data collected up to August 17, highlighting the growing social and political unrest over a war that is already impacting the performance of the U.S. economy.
The survey, which included responses from 1,166 adults nationwide, not only underscores the diminishing public image of the Republican mogul but also reflects a troubling pessimism about the future of the U.S. on the international stage.
The slide in the president’s ratings is undeniable, as only 33% of respondents support his presidency, while 64% express disapproval. This figure represents a decline from the 35% recorded at the beginning of August and matches the lowest negative record Trump had previously reached in December 2017 during his initial presidential term.
The catalyst for this decline is linked to the attacks launched by U.S. forces against the Islamic Republic alongside Israel, a decision that, while aimed at projecting strength, has ultimately raised alarms even among the president’s far-right supporters.
The armed conflict has tangible repercussions for American households, disrupting approximately one-fifth of the global oil trade and driving gasoline prices upward.
This spike in fuel costs has become a significant burden for families and a growing concern for Trump’s Republican allies, who fear losing control of Congress ahead of the midterm elections in November. The president’s campaign promise to keep inflation in check and avoid extended wars collides with Iran’s response, which has proven to be more resilient than expected, maintaining a blockade in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which over 20% of global oil trade passes.
80% of Americans Believe the Conflict with Iran Will «Prolong for an Extended Period»
Initially, Trump promised that the conflict with Iran would last only a few weeks; however, the prevailing sentiment is one of fear that it will extend, as 80% of those surveyed believe that U.S. involvement in Iran will «prolong for an extended period.»
According to the Reuters/Ipsos poll, this perception is broadly shared: 87% of Democrats and 71% of Republicans also reflect this pessimism, while only 16% are confident that the war will end within a few weeks.
This figure is a severe blow to the White House narrative, which initially portrayed the operation as a necessary short intervention to prevent “a very evil nation” from obtaining a nuclear weapon, as Trump asserted during a rally in New York.
Over the months of conflict, the president’s rhetoric has swung between threats of escalation and optimistic announcements regarding an imminent peace deal. However, this communication strategy does not seem to resonate with the public, and only one in five Americans believes the war has been worth it, a figure that includes just half of his own party’s voters.
Risks for Republicans Ahead of Midterm Elections
The political weariness is such that, for the first time in a decade, August polls indicate that voters prefer Democrats over Republicans as better managers of the economy, with 38% versus 35%, respectively.
This Democratic advantage in managing living costs and the overall economy is raising alarms within the Republican leadership, who fear not only losing their slim majority in the House of Representatives but also seeing the Senate fall into the hands of the opposition.
The traditional Republican stronghold on immigration policy is also eroding, as their advantage has narrowed to just 2 percentage points (40% versus 38% for Democrats), the lowest figure of Trump’s entire term, following a 26-point lead in January 2025, creating a new vulnerability for the far-right heading into the November elections.
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