Trump Approval Holds Near Second-Term Low as Record Gas Prices and Massie Primary Loss Stoke GOP Midterm Fears

President Trump’s approval rating has settled around a second-term low of 37 percent as gasoline prices surge to record 2026 highs above $4.56 per gallon. With all 50 states now averaging over $4, the Iran conflict and Strait of Hormuz blockades are driving wartime inflation that has squeezed small-business profits and eroded support among independents and moderates. Roughly two-thirds of Americans still view the military campaign as a mistake, fueling economic anxiety ahead of the summer driving season.

The polling slump has intensified Republican midterm anxieties following President Trump’s successful primary ousting of critics like Rep. Thomas Massie and Sen. Bill Cassidy. Massie warned that the administration has alienated key conservative factions, including fiscal hawks and anti-war voters, coining “Trump Disappointment Syndrome” to describe growing GOP base fatigue. While the White House pivots to the general election and rebrands recent tax legislation, Republican strategists remain alarmed that wartime costs and intraparty purges could jeopardize congressional majorities in November.