President Donald Trump is facing the roughest stretch of his second term, with a new poll showing his approval rating sliding to 38% as Americans grapple with stubbornly high prices and growing frustration over his handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents.

The Grocery Store Problem That Won't Go Away

The Reuters/Ipsos survey, conducted over four days with 1,017 U.S. adults, captures a moment of deepening voter dissatisfaction. Trump's approval is down two points from earlier this month, marking his weakest number since returning to the White House.

The culprit? It's the economy, but specifically the kind that hits you every time you check out at the supermarket. Republican strategist Doug Heye put it bluntly to Reuters: "It's all about prices. People are furious when they go out and spend money at the grocery store, and they can't believe what they are spending."

Only 26% of Americans think Trump is managing the cost of living well. Consumer prices rose 3% in the 12 months through September, and economists have pointed to Trump's tariff policies as a contributing factor to elevated prices on everyday goods. Last week, the administration rolled back duties on coffee, beef, and other staples in response to mounting criticism.

Epstein Files Spark Unusual Republican Backlash

The president is also catching heat from an unexpected source: his own party. Trump's handling of Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein has triggered rare public criticism from Republicans, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).

After months of resisting transparency, Trump reversed course just before the House passed a measure compelling the disclosures. The damage, however, appears already done. Only 20% of Americans approve of his handling of the case.

The poll shows Trump's support among Republicans has dipped to 82%, down from 87% earlier in the month—an unusual crack in what's typically been a solid base.

Investor Gary Black highlighted the numbers on X, noting that Trump's approval "continues to fall" and is now "near the lows of his second presidency," driven largely by voter anger over prices and the Epstein investigation.

Earlier this month, Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) took a sharper swing at Trump's economic record, saying his approval rating is "going right into that golden toilet of his."