On the 500th day of President Donald Trump's return to the White House, his approval rating has fallen to a historic low. With the November midterm elections approaching, Republicans are increasingly worried about losing control of Congress and have begun to "push back" against Trump on key issues. Larry Sabato, a political scientist at the University of Virginia, noted that Republicans, through the dismal poll numbers, are finding that Trump is dragging down their own reelection chances. Meanwhile, at a campaign rally in Wisconsin on June 5, Trump said he would seek to end the Iran war as quickly as possible to eliminate the root cause of high prices.
Recent incidents on Capitol Hill have seen multiple Republican defections, including the House passing a resolution limiting the president's war powers regarding Iran, as well as approving a Ukraine aid bill. Trump's costly renovation project of the White House banquet hall has also drawn criticism from some fellow party members, who argue that such lavish spending is untimely while the Iran war continues.
Citing data from the polling firm YouGov, The Hill reported on June 4 that Trump's current approval rating stands at just 35%, with a disapproval rating of 60% — the lowest numbers recorded by the firm since it began tracking U.S. presidential job performance in 2009, and also a new low for Trump's own tenure.
The economic shock from the Iran war, such as high oil prices and rising inflation, is gradually translating into political pressure on Trump. Analysts believe that Republicans are reluctant to defend Trump's policies at a time when voters are worried about the rising cost of living. "Republicans are starting to show the faintest signs of embryonic spines," said USA Today columnist Huppke.
Sabato pointed out that Trump has forced several Republican lawmakers into retirement and humiliated them through public attacks, a move tantamount to making enemies across the party. He warned that the current margins in both the House and the Senate are extremely narrow, and that just a few Republican defections could be enough to flip vote outcomes. Trump is the only U.S. president to have been impeached twice, and he himself has warned that he could face a third impeachment if Democrats retake control of Congress.
Former Tennessee Republican Senator Alexander also criticized Trump, saying that he has long listened only to the advice of his close aides — people he can fire at any time — while refusing to hear dissenting voices from inside or outside the party. Driving out lawmakers who once supported him, Alexander added, will not leave Trump with a proud legacy.
Despite rising discontent within the party, Trump's grip on Republicans remains evident. Candidates backed by his "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement have repeatedly defeated incumbent lawmakers who have challenged or defied him in key primary races, once again proving that Trump's influence can still sway election outcomes. But Sabato believes that this situation may ultimately work against Trump.
To help Republicans retain control of Congress in the midterms, Trump traveled to Wisconsin on June 5 to campaign, stressing that negotiations with Iran would soon make progress and urging voters to turn out for the election. "We'll be out of Iran very soon, and one way or another, it's going to be a strong ending," he said at a town hall. He also pledged that fertilizer prices would quickly fall back to levels seen four months earlier.
Pav, a data analyst from Wisconsin who described himself as a total Trump supporter, admitted that he was not happy about gas prices. "I don't think we should be in the Middle East at all," he emphasized.
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