Trump's approval dips below 40% on rising costs

Former President Donald Trump’s approval rating has dipped below 40% in key polls as voters cite rising costs of living—especially gas prices—just weeks before the midterm elections, according to NPR’s interview with Republican strategist Sarah Longwell.

Longwell, who runs the conservative advocacy group Republican Voters Against Trump, told NPR that economic anxiety is overshadowing traditional partisan loyalties. She pointed to polling data showing swing-state voters—even some who supported Trump in 2020—are blaming him for inflation and higher fuel costs. "People don’t care about culture wars when they can’t fill their gas tanks," Longwell said. The trend follows months of rising consumer prices, driven by supply chain disruptions, the Ukraine war, and post-pandemic demand. Gas has averaged over $4 a gallon in many states this summer, even as overall inflation has begun to ease. Republicans had hoped the economy would rebound by November, but voters remain frustrated.

The timing couldn’t be worse for Trump. The midterms are traditionally a referendum on the president’s party, and Republicans need a strong turnout to win back Congress. But Longwell warns that Trump’s brand as a dealmaker on the economy is wearing thin. "He’s not seen as the solution anymore," she said. "He’s part of the problem." Recent surveys from Pew and ABC/Washington Post show Trump’s favorability has dropped among independents, a group he needs to win back. Democrats, meanwhile, are using the issue to attack Republicans as extremists while promoting their own economic plans.

If the trend holds, it could weaken Trump’s influence over GOP candidates in tight races. Longwell predicts some Republicans may distance themselves from him in ads or avoid his rallies. But the bigger risk is long-term: a weakened Trump brand could hurt the party’s ability to win over swing voters in 2024. For now, the midterms are becoming less about Trump’s legacy and more about whether Americans can afford to live.