President Donald Trump has received his lowest approval rating yet as fears grow over the prolonged United States war with Iran.
Only 33 percent of American adults approved of Trump’s job performance, according to a Reuters and Ipsos poll published on August 17, 2026. Another 64 percent disapproved.
The result marks a two point drop from a Reuters and Ipsos poll conducted earlier in August. It also ties the lowest rating Trump received during his first term, recorded in December 2017.
Americans Fear a Long Iran War
The poll found deep concern about how long the fighting with Iran could continue. Eighty percent of respondents said they expected United States involvement to last for an extended period.
That concern crossed party lines. Eighty seven percent of Democrats and 71 percent of Republicans said the conflict would likely continue for a long time. Only 16 percent of all respondents expected it to end within a few weeks.
The findings represent a sharp political challenge for Trump. He campaigned on promises to avoid long wars and control inflation, but the Iran conflict has tested both pledges.
Support for the War Remains Low
Only 20 percent of respondents said they supported the war, according to Reuters. That figure shows the conflict remains unpopular even as the administration argues that military action was needed to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
Earlier polling also showed public doubts about the operation. A March Reuters and Ipsos survey found that most Americans believed Trump had not clearly explained the goals of the military campaign.
Trump initially said the conflict would last only a few weeks. Iran has continued resisting United States and Israeli pressure, while efforts to secure a lasting diplomatic agreement have struggled.
Oil Disruption Hits American Households
The war has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important energy routes in the world. Reduced oil flows helped push fuel prices higher, placing added pressure on household budgets.
The United States Energy Information Administration reported that about 20.9 million barrels of oil passed through the strait each day during the first half of 2025. That equaled about one fifth of global petroleum consumption.
The agency said alternatives could carry only part of that oil if the route faced a major closure. That makes any disruption capable of affecting energy prices far beyond the Middle East.
Political Risks Grow Before Midterm Elections
The falling Trump approval rating could create problems for Republican candidates before the November midterm elections. The party is fighting to protect narrow majorities in Congress while voters remain worried about inflation, gasoline prices and the war.
Reuters reported that 38 percent of respondents trusted Democrats more on the economy and cost of living, compared with 35 percent who trusted Republicans. It was the first Democratic advantage on that question in Reuters and Ipsos polling in a decade.
Republicans still held a small advantage on immigration, but their lead had narrowed. The survey suggests economic pain and foreign policy concerns may now carry greater weight with voters.
What the Poll Does and Does Not Show
Ipsos conducted the online survey over four days and collected responses from 1,166 adults across the United States. The poll had a margin of error of three percentage points in either direction.
That means Trump’s measured approval could reasonably fall a few points above or below 33 percent. The results capture public opinion during the survey period and do not guarantee how Americans will vote in November.
Still, the combination of low approval, weak support for the war and widespread fear of a prolonged conflict sends a clear warning. Trump now faces growing pressure to show voters that he can contain the Iran crisis and reduce its financial cost at home.