Trump approval rating drops to record low in new poll

Key Points:

• Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen to a record low of 33 percent among registered voters, according to a Financial Times poll conducted by Focaldata, marking a three-point drop from the previous month.
• Economic pessimism, including dissatisfaction with Trump's trade and tariff policies, is a key factor in his declining approval, with nearly two-thirds of voters believing the economy is headed in the wrong direction and 57 percent feeling financially worse off under his presidency.
• Republican support for Trump's handling of jobs and the economy has also declined, with only 53 percent of Republican voters approving, an eight-point decrease from the prior month.
• Rising fuel costs, driven by the ongoing conflict with Iran, have added to economic concerns, with diesel prices reaching a record national average of $5.85 per gallon; Trump has downplayed the severity of the Iran conflict and the strategic importance of the Hormuz Strait.
• The declining approval ratings and economic worries pose challenges for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections, as a separate Gallup poll shows a growing Democratic advantage in party identification, with 31 percent identifying as Democrats compared to 25 percent as Republicans.