Trump approval rating falls to 33%, lowest of his presidency, poll finds
US President Donald Trump’s approval rating fell to the lowest level of his presidency with an overwhelming majority of Americans concerned the US war with Iran will last a long time, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that concluded on Monday. Just 33 per cent of respondents in the four-day survey said they approved of Trump’s performance in the White House, while 64 per cent disapproved. Trump’s approval rating, down from 35 per cent in a poll that closed earlier this month and lower than at...
Source: South China Morning Post · August 17, 2026 at 7:51 PM · AI-assisted report
KUALA LUMPUR, 18 AUGUST 2026 —
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A Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed on Monday shows President Donald Trump’s approval rating slipping to 33 %, the lowest level of his presidency. The four‑day survey, which sampled 1,166 U.S. adults online, recorded 64 % disapproval and a margin of error of ±3 percentage points. The figure is a decline from 35 % in a poll that closed earlier this month and ties the lowest point of Trump’s first term, reached in December 2017.
Market Impact
Background and context Trump returned to the White House in 2021 with just under half of Americans approving of his performance. His popularity has since been eroded by a series of foreign‑policy and domestic‑policy controversies. The most recent blow came after the president ordered U.S. airstrikes on Iranian targets in April 2026, a move that triggered a brief but intense conflict with Iran and its ally Israel.
The ensuing hostilities disrupted a fifth of global oil trade, pushing gasoline prices higher and adding pressure on U.S. households and the Republican Party’s congressional majority in the November midterm elections.
Trump had campaigned on promises to keep inflation in check and to avoid long‑lasting wars. He initially asserted that the conflict with Iran would last only a few weeks and that it was necessary to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon that could threaten the world. However, Iran has proven resilient, maintaining a largely bottled‑up oil trade through the Strait of Hormuz even as the conflict has cooled.
Current development details The poll found that 80 % of Americans believe U.S. involvement in Iran will “go on for an extended period of time,” with 87 % of Democrats and 71 % of Republicans holding that view. Only 16 % of respondents thought the conflict would end in a few weeks. The survey was conducted online and included a diverse cross‑section of the U.S. adult population.
Impact on the Malaysian market
While the poll is U.S.‑centric, the fallout from the U.S.–Iran conflict has reverberated through global commodity markets, including those in Malaysia. The disruption of oil trade through the Strait of Hormuz has contributed to higher global oil prices, which in turn have increased fuel costs for Malaysian consumers and businesses. The Malaysian stock market, particularly energy‑related sectors, has experienced volatility as investors adjust to the heightened risk premium on oil and gas supplies.
Additionally, the U.S. inflation narrative, now under scrutiny, may influence Malaysian monetary policy decisions as the Central Bank of Malaysia monitors global inflationary pressures.
Sector and company specifics
The energy sector in Malaysia has seen a modest uptick in trading volumes as investors seek exposure to companies with robust supply chains and hedging strategies. Malaysian oil and gas firms such as Petronas and its subsidiaries have reported increased revenue from higher crude prices, though the long‑term impact remains uncertain. In the automotive and logistics sectors, rising fuel costs have pressured operating margins, prompting some firms to explore alternative fuel strategies.
Outlook The poll indicates a sustained decline in public confidence in Trump’s leadership, particularly regarding foreign‑policy decisions. The U.S. political landscape is likely to remain volatile ahead of the November midterm elections, with Republican candidates facing the challenge of addressing both domestic inflation concerns and foreign‑policy fatigue. For Malaysia, the continued instability in global oil markets may necessitate further adjustments in energy policy and supply chain management. The long‑term trajectory of U.S.
involvement in Iran remains unclear, and its implications for global commodity prices and geopolitical stability will continue to be closely monitored by Malaysian policymakers and investors.
Related: Petronas