Poll: GOP support for Trump’s economy drops as Iran war drives prices higher

Republicans are unhappier with President Donald Trump's handling of the economy than they were a few months ago, but they're largely continuing to stand behind him as the war with Iran continues, a new AP-NORC poll finds.

About 6 in 10 Republicans approve of how Trump is handling the economy, according to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. That's down from about 8 in 10 in February, before the war began.

The poll comes as the war with Iran fuels higher gasoline prices, while the U.S. and Iran struggle to move toward a permanent ceasefire. Trumps hold on the GOP remains strong, as he demonstrated on Tuesday when his handpicked candidate defeated Rep. Thomas Massie, a Trump critic, in a primary election challenge. The findings highlight Trump's continued strength within the Republican Party, even as economic frustration grows.

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Ariel Gutierrez, a 55-year-old Republican in Wisconsin, usually requires his teenage children to pay for their own gas. But with spiking gas costs, hes helping out his 15-year-old, whos just learning how to drive.

The whole Iran issue has just exacerbated it, he said. Maybe we were seeing it in groceries before, but now with this push on gas and travel and all that that is how people want to live the leisure part of their lives ... and it is directly impacting us there now. And yes, that is, I believe from Trumps policies, not from his predecessors.

Trump remains unpopular outside his base. Most Americans continue to disapprove of Trumps approach to both Iran and foreign policy. His overall approval rating in the new poll stands at 37%, up slightly from 33% in April. Nearly all Democrats disapprove of his performance as president, as do about 7 in 10 independents.

The economy remains a struggle

About one-third of U.S. adults approve of how Trump is handling the economy. Thats in line with an AP-NORC poll conducted in late April, but down slightly from the start of his second term, when 40% of U.S. adults approved.

The economy was a strength for Trump in his first term, but he's struggled with skepticism about his handling of the issue ever since he reentered the White House last year, after repeatedly promising to bring prices down. His second-term economic approval has fallen among Republicans, in particular. While a majority, 63%, still approve, thats down from 79% in February, a few weeks before the war with Iran began.

Richard Baumgartner, a 77-year-old Republican from Las Vegas, believes higher costs are a necessary side effect of the war, which he supports.

Unfortunately, because of the war, the economy is a little bit off kilter, Baumgartner said. I think itll fall back into place after things resolve over there. Temporary price increases its unfortunate, but its something that has to be confronted in a situation like this where you have a very serious problem.

Trump regains some strength on immigration

While economic promises were pivotal to Trumps reelection, so were his goals of stricter immigration enforcement and this issue may be reemerging as an asset.

Immigration emerged as one of Trumps strengths early in his second term, with about half of U.S. adults saying they liked his approach, but approval of his handling of the issue dipped to 38% in January and February, after months of aggressive immigration enforcement that led to the shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis.

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Now, just under half of U.S. adults, 45%, approve of how he is handling that issue.

Brenda Theiss, an independent from Cullman, Alabama, doesn't like everything Trump is doing. But she gives him credit for being willing to disrupt the status quo to reduce the flow of immigrants who are in the country illegally compared to Democratic presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

I liked Obama; I voted for Obama but Trump was the only one that did something. All of the other presidents sat back and went, Well theres nothing we can do,' the 73-year-old said. He's closing the border. He did it. Biden didn't do it. For that, I give him one hundred.

Over the past few months, the Trump administration has appeared to recalibrate its approach on immigration, moving in many ways away from aggressive, public-facing tactics toward a quieter approach to enforcement.

Immigration remains one of Trumps stronger issues among Republicans. About 8 in 10 approve of his handling of the issue, which is roughly 10 points higher than the share that say hes doing a good job as president.

Few approve of Trump on Iran or issues abroad

Trump's handling of the war with Iran remains unpopular.

Only about one-third of U.S. adults approve of how Trump is handling Iran. Roughly two-thirds of Republicans approve, though an AP-NORC poll conducted last month found that younger Republicans are more likely to disapprove of Trump's performance on the issue than older ones.

Similarly, about one-third of Americans approve of Trumps approach to foreign policy. Though Trump has zeroed in on a more aggressive international approach this year including capturing the leader of Venezuela and threatening Cuba Americans views of his overall handling of foreign policy have not shifted significantly in recent months.

Amanda Wylie, a 22-year-old who lives in Athens, Georgia, says Iran is one of the few issues where Trump doesn't have her support.

I feel like were wasting resources over there at this point and not for the benefit of the American people, said Wylie, who identifies as a Republican-leaning independent. Especially if everyone is worried about gas prices and the ultimate goal of this is to prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon. Yes, thats important, but at what cost?