Trump’s Approval Slips Amid Rising Economic Concerns, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

WASHINGTON, Sept 24 — President Donald Trump’s approval rating has dipped slightly as Americans grow increasingly uneasy about the economy and his ability to rein in rising prices, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows.

The three-day survey, which ended Sunday, found 41 per cent of respondents approved of Trump’s performance, down from 42 per cent in an earlier poll conducted September 5-9.

Concerns about the economy are rising, with 54 per cent of those surveyed saying the country is on the wrong track, compared to 53 per cent in August and 52 per cent in July. Only 35 per cent approved of Trump’s handling of the economy, and just 28 per cent supported his approach to the cost of living, both slightly lower than previous readings. Trump, who returned to the White House this year after campaigning on promises to repair the economy, faces mounting pressure as inflation accelerates and unemployment reached a near four-year high of 4.3 per cent in August.

Economic worries had spiked earlier this year when Trump threatened sweeping tariffs on imports, sparking sharp market declines.

Extremism emerges as top concern

The recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has sharpened focus on political extremism, with Trump accusing the left of fueling violence. At a memorial for Kirk, he declared, “the violence comes largely from the left.”

Reuters/Ipsos polling has consistently shown extremism as Americans’ top concern, with 28 per cent in the latest survey naming it as the most pressing issue, compared to 16 per cent who cited the economy. Asked which party is better equipped to address extremism, 30 per cent chose Republicans, 26 per cent chose Democrats, and the remainder said neither or were unsure.

While economic concerns have dragged on Trump’s approval, more respondents still trusted Republicans over Democrats on economic policy, 34 per cent to 24 per cent.

Trump’s immigration agenda remains his strongest issue, with 42 per cent backing his policies, including mass arrests of people suspected of being in the country illegally. That figure is unchanged from earlier this month and remains his highest approval rating on any single issue.

The poll surveyed 1,019 adults nationwide online and carries a margin of error of three percentage points. Reuters/Ipsos also noted a methodological change beginning this month, no longer allowing respondents to answer “not sure” on Trump’s overall job approval. — Reuters