In the realm of politics, few issues resonate more deeply with the electorate than the economy. Current circumstances reveal a particularly pressing concern among Americans: inflation and the soaring cost of living. Historically, these topics have been areas where Republicans gain traction over their Democratic counterparts.

Recent polling data, specifically commissioned by JL Partners for the Daily Mail, underscores the significant impact of economic anxiety on President Trump’s approval ratings. His support has dwindled to 43 percent, largely driven by dissatisfaction with economic management.

The primary grievance among voters is the persistent inflation and escalating living costs, cited by 43 percent of those disapproving of Trump as their chief reason for discontent. This economic disquiet has relegated the President’s approval rating to the second-lowest point in his second term.

Beyond economic concerns, another notable factor contributing to Trump’s disapproval is his handling of Middle East affairs. This issue ranks among the top three concerns for 22 percent of those surveyed, highlighting a multifaceted challenge for the administration as it navigates both domestic and international criticisms.

The latest results show the President is at the second-lowest approval rating of his second term.

The second-highest factor in Trump’s disapproval is his approach to the Middle East, which was ranked as a top-three concern by 22 percent of poll respondents.

Trump, however, is doing little to stem their worries as Americans are feeling the financial pinch of Trump’s Iran war, with midterm elections now looming in November.

According to the Cook Political Report, Republicans could lose control of Congress. The power dynamic is likely to come down to the results in just three toss-up races for the Senate and 17 key races in the House. 

The pain is sharpest at the gas pump, where prices have hit $4.20 a gallon – up more than a dollar since the war began – piling pressure on Trump to end the conflict.

President Donald Trump speaks to the media before departing the White House en route to Miami, Florida, in Washington, DC, USA, 11 April 2026

A small sticker featuring U.S. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, in lower right of sign, at a gas station on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, US, March 8, 2026

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces began setting conditions for clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz, April 11, as two U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers conducted operations

Trump was also far from reassuring when Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo pressed him Sunday on whether gas prices would fall before the midterms.

‘It could be the same or maybe a little bit higher, but it should be around the same,’ Trump told Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures.

Trump told Bartiromo he did not think the war would last much longer and that Iran was ‘wiped out,’ before rounding on US media outlets for highlighting how ‘wonderful [Iran is] doing militarily.’

Richard Stern, the Vice President of the Plymouth Institute for Free Enterprise at Advancing American Freedom Foundation, told The Daily Mail that Iran’s capacity to further terrorize the world has been neutralized, while America’s capacity to fuel the world has never been greater.  

‘Right now, the world’s cargo ships are lined up to bring American energy across the globe,’ Stern added.

‘All conflicts can cause short-term disruptions, but what we’re looking at is the start of a new era of American-led peace, freedom, and prosperity,’ he concluded.

Other parts of the world, especially Asia, are even more reliant on the Strait of Hormuz – through which a fifth of the world’s crude flows.

Trump announced a US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, which is currently in effect as of Monday morning, as the war spiraled after Vice President JD Vance’s negotiations with Iranians in Pakistan failed to yield any agreement by Tehran to abandon its nuclear ambitions over the weekend.

The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had warned Trump about the vulnerability of Asia and Europe to the war’s economic fallout.

A voter fills out his ballot at the Fairfax County Government Center polling place in Fairfax, Virginia, USA, March 5th, 2024

IRS data showing 2025 versus 2026 return statistics

A bright spot on the horizon for Republicans on the economy could be the increased tax refunds Americans are seeing ahead of the April 15th tax-filing deadline this week.

IRS data shows that the average refund amount received by taxpayers in 2026 had increased just over 11.1 percent as compared to 2025 data. 

Trump also took time on Monday to welcome ‘Doordash Grandma’ outside of the Oval Office at the White House, who thanked him for working with Congressional Republicans to pass his 2024 campaign promise of ‘no tax on tips’ into law last summer.