Trump defends economy as polls show record disapproval on gas prices

President Donald Trump faces a record-high 79% disapproval rating on gas prices as the U.S. conflict with Iran pushes fuel prices past $4 a gallon. While Trump attempts to pivot to positive news—touting FBI data showing U.S. murder rates at their lowest levels since the 1950s as a personal victory—voters remain highly critical of his economic performance. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has exacerbated the fuel crisis, threatening Republican prospects in the upcoming November 2026 midterm elections.

Record disapproval on gas prices

• ▪A CNN-SSRS poll showed that 86% of working-class voters earning less than $50,000 per year disapprove of President Donald Trump's handling of gas prices, including 66% of Republicans, 90% of independents, and 93% of Democrats.
• ▪An aggregate of polling data analyzed by CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten on August 14, 2026, shows President Donald Trump has a record-high average disapproval rating of 79% on his handling of gas prices.
• ▪A CNN-SSRS poll published in late July 2026 showed that 52% of Republicans, 85% of independents, and 96% of Democratic voters disapprove of President Donald Trump's handling of gas prices.
• ▪President Donald Trump's 79% disapproval rating on gas prices exceeds the peak disapproval ratings of former Presidents George W. Bush at 75%, Joe Biden at 72%, and Barack Obama at 68%.

Iran conflict impact on fuel

• ▪Gasoline prices in the United States have risen above $4 per gallon for the third time in 2026, driven by military actions involving President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Iran.
• ▪Democratic Representative Gwen Moore of Wisconsin stated on August 14, 2026, that higher gasoline prices are deepening the cost-of-living squeeze, rejecting President Donald Trump's assertion that Americans should accept paying "a tiny bit more" at the pump due to the war with Iran.
• ▪President Donald Trump dismissed concerns over high gas prices and affordability as a "hoax," according to Republican Representative Mike Flood of Nebraska on August 14, 2026.

Strait of Hormuz closure

• ▪Iran closed the crucial Strait of Hormuz in response to military strikes launched by President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Iran and Lebanon.
• ▪The closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran has contributed to skyrocketing U.S. gasoline prices reaching over $4 per gallon in August 2026.

Crime rate decline since 1950s

• ▪According to the FBI's 2025 crime report, the U.S. murder rate has dropped to lows not seen since the 1950s, continuing a downward trend that began after a pandemic-era spike in the 2020s.
• ▪President Donald Trump announced on August 14, 2026, that a new FBI Uniform Crime Report showed the United States achieved its single largest reduction in violent crime in American history in 2025.
• ▪President Donald Trump credited his administration, including FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Todd Blanche, for the historic crime drop, citing federal resource surges to U.S. cities.
• ▪Adam Gelb, president of the Council on Criminal Justice, stated that crime rates are falling across cities with highly diverse public safety strategies, economic conditions, and political leadership, making it difficult to credit any single leader.

Trump economic messaging challenges

• ▪President Donald Trump has repeatedly pitched the narrative that his second term has delivered a "golden age" for the American economy, though polling indicates voters largely disagree.
• ▪High gas prices and negative public sentiment on the economy are projected to put Trump-backed Republican candidates at risk in the upcoming November 2026 midterm elections, particularly in swing states.

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