United States President Donald Trump’s approval rating fell to 38%, the lowest level since his return to power, amid Americans’ discontent with the high cost of living and his stance on the investigation into the Jeffrey Epstein case. The data comes from a Reuters/Ipsos survey completed on Monday (17).
The survey, carried out over four days, comes at a time when Trump’s influence over the Republican Party is beginning to show signs of wear. This Tuesday, the House of Representatives — controlled by Republicans — approved a measure that requires the disclosure of Justice Department documents related to Epstein. Trump had resisted releasing the files for months, even facing criticism from one of his staunchest allies, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. On Sunday, however, the president backed down, faced with the imminence of a vote without his support.
The drop of two percentage points since the last survey, carried out in early November, places Trump close to the lowest approval levels of his first term — when he reached 33% — and also close to the worst marks of his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, whose approval reached 35%.
The new scenario reveals rare wear and tear within the conservative base itself: Trump’s approval among Republican voters fell from 87% to 82% in just two weeks.
Trump has survived a succession of political crises, including multiple lawsuits stemming from his attempt to overturn his 2020 election defeat. Despite this, his support among conservatives has always remained high, but the economic impact of persistent inflation has been more difficult to overcome.
According to the survey, only 26% of Americans approve of the way Trump is dealing with the cost of living, a drop from 29% at the beginning of the month. Consumer prices have continued to rise at a high pace since his inauguration, even with signs of a slowdown in the job market. Of those interviewed, 65% disapprove of their performance on the topic.
“It’s all about prices,” summed up Republican strategist Doug Heye. “People get angry when they go to the supermarket and see how much they are spending.”
Trump’s main economic bet has been to increase tariffs on imported products, a measure he defends as a way to strengthen American industry. But many economists say this policy has raised prices even further. Amid criticism, the president recently reduced tariffs on items such as coffee, beef and bananas.
Electoral reaction and Epstein case
With mid-term legislative elections scheduled for next year, Trump’s drop in popularity increases the risks for the Republican Party. Still, the poll indicates that many voters continue to view Republicans as more competent in managing the economy.
For independent strategist Mike Ongstad, who once belonged to the Republican Party, the moment is critical: “We are seeing the biggest test of the Trump presidency in terms of the control he exercises over his own party.”
The crisis involving Jeffrey Epstein’s files, however, has proven even more delicate. Only 20% of those interviewed approved of the president’s handling of the issue, including just 44% of Republicans. Among all survey participants, 70% believe that the government hides information about the clients of the convicted financier, who died in federal custody in 2019. Among Republicans, 60% share this view; among Democrats, the rate reaches 87%.
The online survey interviewed 1,017 adults in the United States and has a margin of error of approximately 3 percentage points.
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2025/11/21/aprovacao-de-trump-cai-ao-menor-nivel-de-seu-mandato-em-meio-a-altas-de-precos-e-disputa-sobre-arquivos-de-epstein/
