How low can Trump’s poll numbers go?

▪ GOP skepticism of Trump rises

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▪ Difficulties of Trump primary success

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President Trump’s approval rating is hitting new lows for his second term as the Iran war and surging prices rankle voters, raising questions about just how much it could fall with the midterm elections approaching.

Trump has never been a particularly popular president throughout either of his terms in office. He only briefly had a net positive approval rating in the Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ) polling average for his second term, and his numbers have often trailed those of other presidents at comparable points in their administrations.

His rating has also been remarkably steady, usually fluctuating between the low-to-mid 40s despite wins or controversies that may have had more of an effect on the ratings for his predecessors.

But that’s been put to the test in recent weeks as Trump’s approval rating has floated barely above 40 percent and even fallen below that at times. The DDHQ average currently has his approval rating at 39.7 percent and his disapproval rating at 57.6 percent, near the lowest and highest marks of his current term, respectively.

That’s been fueled by multiple recent polls released from major pollsters showing his numbers taking a dive, especially as more Americans say they aren’t satisfied with Trump’s handling of the economy.

A Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday showed one of his lowest ratings recorded so far, finding only 34 percent of respondents approved of his job performance. Only a third said they approve of his handling of the economy.

The results were split along partisan lines, with nearly all Democrats disapproving of him on the economy and an overwhelming majority of Republicans in approval. But there was a significant shift within the president’s party.

Only 73 percent of Republicans said they approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, while almost a quarter disapprove. That’s a significant change from Quinnipiac’s poll last month, when 88 percent of Republicans approved of the president on the issue.

“What was perhaps the signature issue that propelled Trump to winning two elections sours with voters and cracks form in GOP enthusiasm for his handling of the economy,” Quinnipiac polling analyst Tim Malloy said in a release.

A survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center also released Wednesday found a similar result. Pollsters found 37 percent of adults approve of Trump’s job performance, including 72 percent of Republicans.

Only 63 percent of Republican respondents said they approved of his handling of the economy, down from 78 percent at the start of his second term.

The results come as gas prices are reaching new highs almost three months into the Iran war. Prices now top $4 per gallon in all 50 states, with the national average at $4.56 per gallon, according to AAA.

The president’s average approval rating still hasn’t reached its lowest mark ever recorded. He fell to just above 37 percent in RealClearPolitics’s average in December 2017. A Gallup poll taken earlier that year found that most Trump dissaprovers felt alienated by his personality and character, not his policies.

Looking to past presidents, there’s still plenty of room for Trump to fall — especially if inflation keeps going up and Iran becomes a quagmire.

Harry Truman notched the lowest approval rating for a president in Gallup’s history, at 22 percent amid frustration over the Korean War and the economy. George W. Bush sunk to 25 percent during the 2008 financial crisis and Iraq war. And Jimmy Carter fell to 28 percent amid an energy crisis and soaring gas prices.

While Trump’s MAGA base has inured him from those types of numbers in the past, that’s showing signs of erosion too. The Wednesday AP-NORC Center poll found only 18 percent of voters strongly approve of his performance, down 6 points from roughly the same time last year.

While the president seems destined to set personal lows in the months ahead, without some major change in his handling of the economy and Iran war, he’s still far away from Truman territory — but also less than halfway into his second term.

Even his current numbers are a huge concern to Republicans six months out from the midterms, with his falling approving coinciding with a widening gap in the generic ballot for congressional races. The multiracial coalition of voters who helped his return to the White House is quickly cracking, with support from Black and Latino voters plummeting.

Approval numbers that once seemed impossible for Trump — low 30s........

© The Hill