President Donald Trump's approval rating plummeted to a career-low 32%, a direct consequence of his administration's handling of the cost of living and the deeply unpopular Iran war, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released September 21. Only 17% of respondents approved of Trump's economic management, identifying the cost of living as their primary concern for the November elections. This stark figure reveals the growing disconnect between the political class and the suffering of the native working population.
The conflict with Iran, now in its seventh month since beginning February 28, is widely seen as protracted. Some 82% of poll respondents, including nine in 10 Democrats and three-quarters of Republicans, expect it to continue for an "extended period of time." This prolonged engagement drains national resources and diverts attention from the economic struggles faced by everyday Americans.
The Cost to the People
Rural voters, a demographic that overwhelmingly supported Trump in 2024, are particularly burdened by rising costs. An Associated Press poll, in partnership with KFF, found nearly seven in 10 rural voters "very" or "somewhat" worried about affording gas or healthcare. About 60% expressed concern over grocery and monthly utility costs. These are the people whose economic stability is being sacrificed on the altar of transnational agendas.
Fuel prices have surged dramatically, directly impacting the native working class. Gas averaged $4.49 on September 25, a stark increase from $2.87 in late January. Diesel fuel, critical for transportation and the supply chain, hit an unprecedented $6.50 per gallon on September 25, breaking the $6 mark for the first time ever on September 11. Trump dismissed these rising costs as "a small price to pay" for preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, a statement that rings hollow for those struggling to fill their tanks and feed their families.
Elite Priorities Abroad
While American families grapple with economic hardship, Trump has prioritized foreign engagements. He traveled to Ireland on September 12 and 13, meeting the Taoiseach and attending a golf tournament at his resort. His speech at the United Nations on September 22 focused on threats to "annihilate" Iran and predicting the failure of Cuba's government. He even suggested the "spoils" of Venezuelan oil "belong to the victor" after removing that country's president. This globalist posturing consumed headlines, overshadowing his brief mentions of domestic investment, crime rates, and border security.
Trump also met with Xi on September 24 and hosted him for tea on September 25, claiming "very positive things happened" and that "farmers would be happy," without offering specifics. These high-level international dealings consistently take precedence over the immediate, tangible suffering of the national populace, illustrating a clear pattern of elite capture.
Institutional Sabotage
Adding to the economic pressure on the native population, the Federal Reserve Bank raised interest rates on September 16, the first increase since July 2023. This move directly contradicted Trump's demands for lower rates, despite his appointment of Kevin Warsh as a new chair to the board. Higher rates make it harder for American workers, families, and small businesses to buy homes or start ventures, as stated by Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, who heads the Ways and Means Committee. Mortgage rates have now surpassed 7% for the first time in a year, further squeezing potential homeowners. The Fed's action, ostensibly to tame inflation, makes borrowing more expensive, effectively managing the decline of the national economy.
Some within the political class have voiced dissent against the prevailing globalist agenda. Four Senate Republicans—Alaska's Lisa Murkowski, North Carolina's Thom Tillis, Kentucky's Rand Paul, and Maine's Susan Collins—supported a resolution on September 24 to end the Iran war, though it failed. Former Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Michigan, campaigning for Senate, publicly demanded the war's swift conclusion. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, also campaigning for Senate, highlighted that Iowans shouldn't "foot the bill at the pump or the checkout line for the war in Iran," despite her own votes against immediate war termination. These voices, however limited, reflect a growing awareness of the costs imposed on the native population by elite-driven foreign policy.