US President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 38%, marking the lowest point since his return to power, according to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll. The two-percentage-point decline since a similar poll in early November comes as Americans express strong disappointment with the President’s handling of both the high cost of living and the ongoing controversy surrounding the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The four-day online poll surveyed 1,017 US adults nationwide and has a margin of error of approximately ±3 percentage points.
Key Findings: A Decline in Support
The 38% approval rating represents a nine-point decline since Trump began his second term in January with 47% of Americans giving him a favorable rating.
- Republican Support Wanes: While still strong, support among the President’s own party has also slipped, falling to 82% from 87% earlier in November.
- Economic Vulnerability: The issue of the cost of living remains Trump’s most significant vulnerability. Only 26% of Americans say Trump is doing a good job at managing this issue, down from 29% earlier in the month. A massive 65% of respondents—including one in three Republicans—disapprove of his economic performance on affordability.
- Congressional Impact: Although the poll suggests voters still believe the Republican Party has a better overall approach to economic policy, the President’s sagging popularity could potentially negatively affect Republicans in next year’s congressional elections.
The Epstein Controversy Drags Down Approval
The renewed public focus on Jeffrey Epstein following the release of over 20,000 pages of his emails and messages by a congressional committee on November 12 has severely impacted the President’s popularity.
- Low Approval on Handling: Only 20% of Americans, including just 44% of Republicans, approve of how President Trump has handled the Epstein case.
- Belief in Cover-Up: The poll highlighted deep public skepticism, with 70% of respondents—including 87% of Democrats and 60% of Republicans—believing the government is hiding information about Epstein’s clients.
Trump has publicly dismissed the controversy, referring to the entire saga as a “Jeffrey Epstein Hoax” orchestrated by Democrats to deflect from other political issues. In a Truth Social post, he advised Republicans not to “fall into that trap,” arguing the focus should be on “opening up our Country, and fixing the massive damage caused by the Democrats!” This stance, however, has not eased public concern.
The declining approval rating puts Trump’s leadership to one of the biggest tests of his presidency, particularly regarding his grip on the Republican Party, noted independent strategist Mike Ongstad.