President Donald Trump praised the U.S. economy during his prime-time speech on Wednesday night about the war on Iran, as polls show a bleaker reality facing him.
Why It Matters
At home, Americans faced the sharpest jump in gasoline prices since 2022—passing a $4 national average—deepening political stakes for the Trump administration and shaping expectations for the address.
Shifts in approval and disapproval ratings could also signal broader erosion and complicate the Republican Party’s midterm strategies, especially as multiple trackers show Trump significantly underwater nationally.
Recent surveys recorded record or near‑record lows within key demographics, including men and independent voters, potentially compounding headwinds for the White House amid public concern over the cost of living in the U.S. and the ongoing war with Iran.
What To Know
During his address to the nation Wednesday, the president said in part, “We built the strongest economy in history. We’re going through it right now, the strongest in history, in one year, we’ve taken a dead and crippled country. I hate to say that, but we were a dead and crippled country after the last administration and made it the hottest country anywhere in the world by far with no inflation. Record-setting investments coming into the United States, over $18 trillion. And the highest stock market ever, with 53 all-time record highs in just one year.”
“It all positioned us to get rid of a cancer that has long simmered. It’s known as the nuclear Iran,” Trump said.
Amid the backdrop of Trump’s speech, however, looms a new reality for the president: a plunge in his approval ratings.
Trump hit a new approval-rating low for his second term in office, a survey from CNN conducted by SSRS shows on Wednesday. According to the poll, Trump’s approval rating is 35 percent, with a disapproval rating of 64 percent. The survey was taken from March 26 to March 30 among 1,201 respondents, with a 3.2 percent margin of error.
CNN notes that Republicans who strongly approve of Trump’s job performance dropped from 52 percent in January to 43 percent in the poll out on Wednesday.
Trump’s approval rating for handling the economy has also dropped to a new low of 31 percent, the poll shows.
In a poll from The Economist and YouGov released on Tuesday, the president’s approval rating with Republicans was 81 percent and his disapproval rating was 14 percent. The survey polled 1,679 U.S. adults from March 27 to March 30, with a 3.2 percent margin of error.
The last time the president’s approval rating dipped to 81 percent or lower among Republicans was in a poll from January 16 to January 19, when it hit 79 percent with the group, surveys from the pollster show.
Trump’s approval rating on Iran week over week shows an 8 percent drop, the poll from The Economist and YouGov also shows. In the poll on Tuesday, 68 percent of Republicans approve of the job the president is doing versus 22 who disapprove. Last week, 76 percent of Republicans approved and 14 percent disapproved.
What People Are Saying
Former Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, on X following Trump’s speech: “I wanted so much for President Trump to put America First. That’s what I believed he would do. All I heard from his speech tonight was WAR WAR WAR. Nothing to lower the cost of living for Americans. Nothing to reduce our near $40 trillion in debt. Nothing to save Social Security, which goes bankrupt in just a few years. Nothing to lower the cost of insurance. Nothing to address jobs for Americans. Nothing about education for our children. Nothing about our children’s future. Nothing for America’s future. I’m so beyond done. I pray for our military and their families. I pray for innocent people all over the world. I pray for peace and prosperity for all.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also on X Wednesday: “President Trump delivered a powerful speech tonight. He was clear about our objectives in Iran: • Destroy their weapons factories • Destroy their navy • Destroy their air force • Destroy their chances of ever having a nuclear weapon The President’s leadership sends a message to the world that the United States will defend its people and its interests, and uphold peace through strength.”
