Americans are facing soaring prices on everything from gas to groceries to health care as they foot the bill for Donald Trump’s deadly and costly war of choice with Iran — and voters are fed up
Trump’s top advisors, including his chief of staff Susie Wiles and the head of Trump’s political operation James Blair, are convening dozens of political operatives today to strategize as they grow increasingly worried about their chances in the midterm elections.
The meeting follows an earlier strategy session in February at the Capitol Hill Club, where Wiles, Blair and other top Trump political advisers huddled with Cabinet officials on how to sharpen the GOP’s midterm messaging and better sell Trump’s agenda.
Taken together, the sessions underscore growing urgency inside the White House about the midterms and concerns around energy prices and cost of living exacerbated by the Iran war.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In response, DNC Spokesperson Jaelin O’Halloran released the following statement:
“Donald Trump and Republicans are headed for an embarrassing defeat in the midterms — and they’re panicking. Americans are being squeezed by sky-high prices, made even worse as Trump forces them to foot the bill for his unpopular war with Iran. Working families who were already struggling to make ends meet in Trump’s economy are being pushed even further — and they’re fed up. As Trump and Republicans look the other way, Democrats are focused on what actually matters: lowering prices and making life better for everyday Americans.”
Trump’s approval rating hits new low, poll finds
Overall, 37% of adults approve of Trump’s performance as president, while 63% disapprove — including 50% who said they disapprove strongly — putting his job rating at the lowest point of his second term in NBC News Decision Desk polling. Two-thirds of respondents also disapproved of Trump’s handling of inflation and the Iran conflict.
While the president still commands the overwhelming support of his base, Republican support softened compared to the last Decision Desk poll conducted in late January and early February. In the new poll, 83% of Republicans gave Trump a positive approval rating, down 4 points from earlier this year. And the share of Republicans who strongly approve of Trump’s job performance has dropped 6 points, from 58% to 52%.
And broadly, one-third of Americans believe the country is on the right track while two-thirds believe it is on the wrong track — the most pessimistic outlook in Decision Desk polling since Trump retook office last year.