Ahead of the United States midterm elections, President Donald Trump’s job approval rating continues to sit near a record low, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. Roughly 32 percent of respondents approved of Trump’s handling of the presidency, which represents a 1 percentage point increase compared with his rating from two weeks ago.
Republican Unpopularity and Impeachment Warnings
The Republican Party continues to face unpopularity among surveyed individuals. When participants were asked whether they intended to vote for a generic Democratic or Republican candidate, 46 percent favored Democrats, whereas 38 percent preferred Republicans.
Although Trump is not personally on the ballot, he has repeatedly urged his supporters to cast their ballots as if he were running. Trump warned that if the Republican Party loses control of the US Congress, Democrats might attempt to impeach him for a third time.
Impact of Foreign Conflict and Campaign Strategy
Polls suggest that Trump’s approval rating has declined steadily, particularly following the launch of the US-Israel war on Iran on February 28. This conflict has caused petrol and diesel prices to rise, creating secondary concerns for US consumers who are worried about inflation and the broader economy.
To help Republican candidates maintain control of the US House of Representatives and the Senate, the president launched a nearly monthlong campaign blitz leading up to the November 3 midterms. Trump concluded his campaign trail on Monday afternoon by holding a rally in Washington, DC, at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a site where he has focused significant attention for capital renovation projects. The renovation ran months behind schedule, exceeded its initial cost estimate tenfold, and featured a special pool liner that Trump had promoted but began peeling away shortly after installation.
During the rally, Trump discussed his capital renovation plans, which include a legal challenge-facing “Triumphal Arch,” stating that the pool was a work of art that ultimately failed to function properly before his intervention. While acknowledging on Monday that his campaign efforts might not secure the desired outcomes for his party, Trump noted that the situation reflects standard political patterns for midterm elections.
“For some reason, the sitting president doesn’t win the midterms,” Trump said. “But we gave this a very strong shot.”
