Trump’s economy approval slips in AP-NORC poll as Iran-war prices rise

On the economy, a new AP-NORC poll finds President Donald Trump losing ground as Americans grapple with higher prices tied to the Iran war and ongoing uncertainty that the survey’s authors say has tested voters’ patience.

The poll, conducted April 16-20 by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research using NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, put Trump’s approval on the economy at 30% in April, down from 38% in March. It also found that 32% of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s leadership on Iran, a figure that the AP reported was unchanged from last month.

The results reflect a political environment shaped by the Iran war and by inflation pressures that have remained stubborn for many households. The AP-NORC survey ties the drop in economic approval to prices that respondents associate with the conflict, saying it has dragged on longer than expected and driven further strain on cost of living.

The AP said the April poll also shows weakness in Trump’s standing on cost of living, with only about one-quarter of U.S. adults approving of his handling of prices. The article pointed to the consumer price index rising 3.3% in March from a year ago, and said inflation remains slightly higher than the 3% level Trump inherited when he returned to the White House last year.

Within the AP account, Trump has faced criticism over the gap between his economic promises and what people are experiencing at the pump and in daily expenses. The article said Trump had pledged to slash gasoline prices, but that gasoline prices jumped after the U.S. attacked Iran in February. It also said his tariffs have kept parts of the economy in “limbo” and slowed hiring despite his public claims of a “golden age.”

The AP described how volatility during the poll period mirrored the broader unpredictability around the Strait of Hormuz. It said the Strait was reopened by Iran during the April 16-20 window and then closed again, characterizing the conflict as marked by “whiplash.”

The survey data also showed the president’s economic concerns resonating even with some Republicans, including people who previously supported him. The AP said only about half of Republicans approve of Trump’s handling of the cost of living, and that younger Republicans are particularly dissatisfied—about 6 in 10 Republicans under 45 disapprove, compared with about 4 in 10 older Republicans.

In the AP story, the difference between MAGA and non-MAGA Republicans appears as part of the survey’s picture, with the AP saying about 9 in 10 MAGA Republicans still approve of Trump’s overall job performance, compared with 44% of non-MAGA Republicans. But it said approval on cost of living among MAGA Republicans stands lower than their general support—about 7 in 10.

The AP included voter reactions to illustrate the political and personal stakes of the poll results. Kathryn Bright, a 60-year-old retired U.S. Air Force captain from Colorado, said she regrets supporting Trump and described feeling “disgusted” and “betrayed,” quoting her view that he promised improvements before being elected. In the AP account, Bright said she had been drawn to Trump’s vows related to veterans, avoiding foreign wars, and lowering costs.

Another example in the AP report came from Miguel Cortes, a 67-year-old retired aircraft mechanic in South Carolina, who told AP he sees price increases tied to tariffs and the Iran war as a temporary cost, adding that he is not planning to complain about rising gasoline costs. The AP story also said Cortes believes “God put him there for a reason.”

The poll’s economic backdrop extends beyond approval ratings into Americans’ broader assessments of the economy. The AP reported that about three-quarters of U.S. adults described the U.S. economy as “very” or “somewhat” poor in April, up from about two-thirds in February. The article said that confidence fell as gasoline prices remained higher and as markets reacted on a “rollercoaster” amid shifting signals about prospects for peace with Iran and warnings about potential escalation.

Among political subgroups, the AP said Trump’s economic approval is especially low among independents, and has also eroded among Republicans. The article reported that about 2 in 10 independents approve of Trump’s performance on the economy in the new poll, down slightly from about 3 in 10 in March. It also said that while 62% of Republicans approve of the way Trump is handling the economy in April—down from 74% last month—Republican enthusiasm about his overall performance has weakened as well.

The AP noted that in March 2025, 51% of Republicans “strongly” approved of Trump’s handling of the presidency, but that the share had dropped to 38% by the April survey. It said immigration approval was a relative bright spot for Trump, with about 4 in 10 U.S. adults approving of his performance on that issue, unchanged from last month.

Finally, the AP said Trump’s current approval levels align with levels seen when the previous president, Joe Biden, hit his lowest point in AP-NORC polling—36%—which the article tied to July 2022 after inflation spiked to a four-decade high. The AP also said Trump entered office with relatively low approval at 42% in March 2025, and that it had remained fairly stable until now.