Politics

New NBC Poll Shows Trump at Record Low as Iran War Drags On

By Mike Harper · April 20, 2026

The numbers have been sliding all year. Sunday’s poll made it official.

A new NBC News poll released Sunday shows President Trump’s job approval rating has fallen to 37% — the lowest point of his second term and a number that puts him in historically uncomfortable company. According to NBC News, 63% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s performance, including 50% who disapprove strongly.

The poll, conducted March 30 through April 13 among 32,433 adults, carries a margin of error of plus or minus 1.8 percentage points.

Two issues are driving the decline: the economy and the Iran war. Two-thirds of respondents disapproved of Trump’s handling of both. Just 33% approved of how he has managed the Iran conflict specifically, and less than half of those approved strongly. On inflation and cost of living, disapproval was similarly severe — and 40% of respondents said their personal finances were worse today than a year ago, the highest figure NBC has recorded during Trump’s second term.

The softening extends into his base. Republican approval of Trump’s handling of inflation fell 10 points since last summer, from 83% to 73%. Overall Republican support dropped four points in just two months, from 87% to 83%. Neither shift is catastrophic on its own — but the direction and pace are notable for a president with midterm elections approaching in November.

For context, Barack Obama’s lowest approval rating was 37%. Joe Biden’s was 31%. Trump is now tied with Obama’s floor and trending in that direction, with midterms seven months away.

The Daily Beast noted that the drop is largely tied to economic pain that is directly traceable to the Iran conflict — gas prices up roughly $1 a gallon since February, inflation jumping to 3.3% in March, and markets rattled by the uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz. Sunday’s tanker seizure and Iran’s withdrawal from peace talks will not make that picture easier to reverse.

What remains unresolved is whether the numbers stabilize if a deal with Iran is reached. The poll was conducted before Sunday’s escalation — meaning the data may already be more favorable to Trump than what a fresh survey would show. The ceasefire expires Wednesday. A second round of talks was on the table as recently as Saturday. As of Sunday evening, Iran had not confirmed it would send negotiators to Islamabad.