War with Iran undermines Trump's approval rating: rising fuel prices hit Americans' pockets

Americans are increasingly feeling how Washington's decisions are turning into a daily struggle for survival as fuel prices soar and hopes for a quick end to the conflict fade.

A New York Times/Siena poll released on May 18, 2026, found Donald Trump’s approval rating at its lowest level of his second term, at just 37 percent. That number is the result not only of the protracted war with Iran but also of the sharp rise in the cost of living for average families. Most voters believe that entering the conflict was a mistake, and that discontent is already weighing on sentiment ahead of the congressional midterm elections.

Economic consequences that affected each state

The average price of a gallon of gasoline in the United States has reached $4,52, up from $3,18 a year ago. In California and New York, drivers are paying more than $5 a gallon, and in rural areas of the Midwest, rising fuel prices have hit farmers hard, forcing them to reduce their acreage. According to the American Automobile Association, 64 percent of voters disapprove of the president’s handling of the economy, an area once considered his strength.

Independent voters are particularly vocal about the changes. Nearly half of them — 47 percent — say the administration’s policies have directly hurt their finances, up six percentage points from the fall of 2025. In traditionally Republican states like Kentucky and Ohio, residents are complaining about rising heating and transportation bills.

A war that lasts longer than expected

Since the first strikes on Iranian targets in February 2025, the conflict has dragged on. About two-thirds of Americans believe the decision to enter the war was wrong. Only 23 percent of those polled believe the costs are justified. The president said in his latest comment that he does not think about the financial difficulties of citizens when it comes to national security, but such words only increased irritation.

International observers have recorded rising tensions in the region. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are trying to mediate, while China has stepped up diplomatic contacts with Tehran. In Europe, the leaders of France and Germany are calling for immediate talks, fearing a new wave of refugees and an energy crisis.

Voices from the American heartland

John Johnson, a 78-year-old contractor from Crescent Springs, Kentucky, who voted for Trump, told reporters that rising gas prices have forced him to cut back on his spending on medicine and groceries. “Everybody’s suffering because of gas prices,” he says. “We could have fought the war more diplomatically.” Similar sentiments are echoed in Michigan, where auto workers fear layoffs due to rising logistics costs.

Sociologists at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell note that by October 2025, the rating had fallen to 42 percent, a level that Joe Biden reached only in the third year of his presidency. A tough approach to deportations, during which two US citizens died, also undermined trust, but it was the Iran crisis that accelerated the decline.

Democrats don't get an automatic advantage

Despite the Republicans' decline, the Democratic Party is also not very trustworthy. Only 26 percent of voters are satisfied with the way it is doing, while 44 percent of Democrats express dissatisfaction with their own party. Many independent voters are looking for an alternative to both political forces, which could affect turnout in the November elections.

Analysts predict that if energy prices do not stabilize by September, Republican control of the House of Representatives could be at risk. At the same time, some conservative commentators are urging the president to more actively seek a diplomatic settlement to regain some of his lost support.

What awaits the US in the coming months

Energy experts warn of possible further price increases if the conflict does not subside by the end of the summer. Meanwhile, Congress is debating additional funding for military operations. Civil society organizations are organizing protests in dozens of cities, demanding a return to peace talks.

For many American families, the current situation has become a test of endurance. They are closely monitoring the news, hoping for any signs of easing tensions that could bring stability back to their daily lives.