Trump approval hits new low as midterms loom
Thestandard · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Donald Trump's approval rating has dropped to 33 per cent, the lowest level yet recorded by the Financial Times poll, as registered voters grow more negative about the economy and cost of living. The same survey suggests the slide is becoming a political problem for Republicans before November's midterm elections, with Democrats opening a wider lead in voting intention.
Key Points
- The nationwide Focaldata poll surveyed 1,914 registered voters from August 28 to September 1 and reported a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points
- Trump's overall approval fell three points from the previous month to 33 per cent, while his approval among Republican voters slipped to 72 per cent, also a new low.
- Nearly two-thirds of voters said the US economy was heading in the wrong direction, and 57 per cent said they were financially worse off under Trump.
- On trade, 56 per cent disapproved of Trump's move to impose a 50 per cent tariff on about US$20 billion of Canadian goods, after which Ottawa retaliated
- Forty-six per cent said Trump was making it harder for Republican congressional candidates to win in November, while Democrats led Republicans by 7.5 points among registered voters.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the poll points to a US political cycle increasingly shaped by inflation, fuel costs and tariff disputes, all of which can affect global markets and trade sentiment. It also raises the stakes for November's midterms, which are widely seen as a referendum on the president's economic management and could reshape Washington's policy direction