- President Donald Trump's approval rating dropped to a record low of 33 percent in a Financial Times poll, posing challenges for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections.
- Economic pessimism and rising living costs drove the decline, with 57 percent of registered voters reporting they are financially worse off under Trump's presidency.
- Surging fuel costs exacerbated by the military conflict with Iran have further hurt sentiment, as national average diesel prices reached a record $5.85 a gallon.
- Trump downplayed the Iran conflict as a minor operation and minimized the importance of the Hormuz Strait, claiming alternative routes make the key oil hub less necessary.
- Compounding Republican concerns, new Gallup data indicates Democrats hold a 31 to 25 percent lead in adult party identification, their largest advantage in over a decade.
IN FULL
