Key facts
- Americans now pick Democrats over Republicans as better stewards of the economy, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.
- President Donald Trump's approval rating fell to 35% from 37% in the latest poll.
- The poll found 37% of registered voters believe the Democratic Party has a better approach to the U.S. economy, versus 36% for the Republican Party.
- Gasoline prices have increased by over 25% since the conflict with Iran began.
- 42% of registered voters indicated they would vote for a Democrat in congressional elections, while 37% would vote Republican.
Americans now view Democrats more favorably than Republicans when it comes to managing the U.S. economy, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. This marks the first time in nearly a decade that the Democratic Party has held an advantage on this issue.
The poll, conducted from Wednesday to Monday, also revealed a decline in President Donald Trump's approval rating, which dropped to 35%. This shift in economic sentiment, coupled with rising energy prices attributed to the conflict with Iran, could potentially impact the Republican Party's prospects in the upcoming November midterm elections.
Trump's presidential approval rating saw a decrease from 37% in the previous month's poll, bringing it close to the lowest level recorded during his term. The survey indicated that 37% of registered voters believe Democrats have a better economic approach, compared to 36% who favor Republicans. A significant 27% remained unsure or believed another party would perform better.
Historically, Republicans have maintained an advantage on economic matters throughout much of Trump's presidency and the preceding years of Joe Biden's term. However, this edge has diminished recently, coinciding with increased household financial strain due to soaring gasoline prices following U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran in February and the subsequent ongoing conflict.
Trump has stated that the strikes were intended to halt Iran's nuclear program and curb its regional aggression. Nevertheless, gasoline prices have risen by over 25% since the conflict began, with average prices at the pump increasing by more than a dollar per gallon.
Regarding the upcoming congressional elections, the poll showed 42% of registered voters would support a Democrat, while 37% would support a Republican. Independents showed a 12-percentage-point preference for Democrats. Republicans are currently defending narrow majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Trump has frequently disputed polling data that suggests dissatisfaction with his leadership, recently posting on Truth Social that his "REAL Polling Numbers" are at an all-time high. The Reuters/Ipsos poll surveyed 4,505 U.S. adults and has a margin of error of 2 percentage points.