Trump's Foreign Policy Approval Hits Record Low as Iran War Drags On, New Poll Shows

President Donald Trump's approval rating on foreign affairs has dropped to its lowest point yet, according to a new CNN/SSRS poll published Tuesday, as the seven-month war in Iran continues without resolution. The findings arrive at a politically sensitive moment for Republicans, landing just over a month before voters head to the polls in November's midterm elections. Approval Slides as the War Continues Only 29% of US adults said they approve of Trump's handling of foreign affairs, a sharp decline from 42% shortly after he returned to office last year and 36% in March, weeks after the war in Iran began. The ongoing conflict appears to be the primary driver of the decline. The White House has argued the war is necessary to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, but that message has been undercut by a sustained rise in global energy prices tied to the fighting. A Rare Crack in Republican Support Disapproval is overwhelming among Democrats and independents, with 95% of Democrats and 78% of independents giving Trump negative marks on foreign policy. Notably, disapproval extends into his own party as well, with 33% of Republicans also expressing dissatisfaction. Critics have pointed to reports of a shrinking US military stockpile, a concern Trump and senior administration officials have publicly denied. The war also carries the risk of further escalation, following recent Iran-aligned Houthi attacks on a Saudi Arabian oil pipeline. Public Doubts About Strategy and Outcomes Just 18% of poll respondents said Trump's decisions regarding the Iran war have helped the United States, while 70% said they've hurt the country's standing. Confidence in the administration's strategy has also eroded — only a quarter of respondents said they believe Trump has a clear plan for handling Tehran, down from 40% in the days immediately following the joint US-Israel strikes in February. Some Republicans Break From Trump on the War A growing number of Republicans in competitive races have begun distancing themselves from the administration's approach, increasingly calling for an end to the conflict. Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson, locked in an unexpectedly close battle for her state's open Senate seat, wrote Monday that Iowans shouldn't have to bear the financial burden of the war through higher prices at the pump or grocery store. Michigan Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers echoed that sentiment in a video posted the same day, saying the war with Iran needs to end, and end quickly. Trump Signals the War Could Wind Down After the Election Trump himself appears attuned to the shifting political mood. Earlier this month, he told reporters the war would end immediately after the election, suggesting that Iran is holding out in hopes of influencing the outcome. He claimed Tehran is desperate to see a weaker political outcome that would allow it to retain its nuclear ambitions unchecked. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. About the Poll The CNN/SSRS poll was conducted by web and telephone from September 16-17, surveying a random sample of 1,206 US adults aged 18 and older. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.