Here's a political reality that feels a lot like an economic one: when gas prices go up, presidential approval ratings tend to go down. That's the story emerging from the latest polling data, which shows President Donald Trump's numbers taking a hit as voters express growing concern over energy costs.
The numbers tell a clear story. A weekly poll shows Trump with a 43% approval rating and a 54% disapproval rating. That 11-point net deficit is one of the widest he's faced in his second term, and it's down seven points since tensions—and subsequent military strikes—escalated in the Middle East.
While some voters may disapprove of the foreign policy action itself, the more tangible consequence for most Americans is likely what happened next: higher oil prices. And that seems to be resonating at the pump and in the polls.
When asked what the president's top priorities should be, reducing energy prices came in third, with 64% of voters calling it a priority. That's up five points from just the week before. The kicker? Only 42% of those polled believe it is a top priority for the president. There's a clear gap between what voters want and what they think they're getting.
This sentiment is reflected in Trump's specific approval ratings for the energy category. He now has a 44% approval and a 47% disapproval on energy, for a net rating of -3. That's a stark reversal from the +16 net approval he enjoyed on energy at the start of his second term. The connection between global events, pocketbook issues, and political standing has rarely been so direct.
The Economy Isn't Providing Much Shelter
The bad news for the administration isn't confined to the energy sector. The economy, often a potential stronghold, isn't offering much relief either.
In the latest poll, Trump scored a 42% approval for his handling of the economy, while 52% disapprove. Voters ranked "lowering costs" as the item that should be the president's top priority, yet only 47% believe it is. Health care affordability came in a close second, with 70% saying it should be a top priority, but only 45% believing it is for Trump.
Perhaps most telling is the measure of economic sentiment, or "net economic buzz." This is calculated by taking the percentage of people who heard something positive about the economy and subtracting the percentage who heard something negative. For this week, that number was -36 points.
According to the pollster, that marks the worst net economic buzz rating in the history of their tracker. It's a number that suggests a broad, pessimistic mood about the economic conversation, separate from any specific policy approval.
A Slightly Brighter Note on Wall Street
Amid the downbeat polling, the stock market offered a minor counter-narrative. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) ended a recent trading day up slightly, gaining 0.09% to $655.83. The ETF was up 2.1% over the prior five trading days, though it remains down 4.0% for the year to date in 2026.
It's a small reminder that the signals from Main Street sentiment and Wall Street tickers don't always move in lockstep. But for a president seeking re-election, the numbers that matter most might be the ones coming from voters worried about the cost of filling up their tanks.
