Poll Shows Mixed Approval for Trump’s Handling of International Conflict
WASHINGTON (AP) — A recent Associated Press-NORC poll indicates that more American adults are approving of President Donald Trump’s management of the Israeli conflict, especially after he facilitated a cease-fire in Gaza. Yet, his ratings for domestic issues remain quite low.
Despite this apparent international success, Trump’s standing at home hasn’t seen a boost. Some voters expressed the need for him to focus more on pressing issues like the economy, healthcare, and immigration in interviews.
“It’s great that he’s bringing peace, but honestly, I think we should prioritize Americans first,” said Justin Sanders, a 31-year-old Republican from Birmingham, Alabama, who has voted for Trump twice.
“We have to get inflation under control,” he continued, adding, “It’s frustrating to think about whether I should eat or not every day.”
The poll, conducted from October 9 to 13, took place before the release of hostages and prisoners of war in Israel and followed the announcement of the cease-fire. This fragile ceasefire in Gaza is still ongoing, but many uncertainties linger about U.S. plans for the region and the potential for lasting peace.
On the domestic front, however, Trump is facing significant challenges. With the U.S. government shutdown now in its third week, many Americans are grappling with high prices, and healthcare cuts and hospital closures are impacting millions.
A new poll shows around 40% of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s overall performance as president, which hasn’t changed since September.
Approval Rating Rises on Middle Eastern Conflict
Approximately 47% of American adults now approve of Trump’s approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, an increase from 37% the previous month, mainly driven by a more favorable view among Democrats.
Jack Bornstein, a 61-year-old independent voter from Alpharetta, Georgia, who usually votes Democratic, expressed relief at the release of Israeli hostages that was part of the deal Trump helped negotiate. “I give him credit for that,” he remarked, although he also pointed out his concerns about rising food prices and healthcare.
However, earlier polling from July showed that many Americans prioritize domestic issues—like the economy, healthcare, taxes, government spending, and immigration—over international matters. Only about 40% said the Middle East was at least “very” important to them, whereas around 90% regarded the economy as such.
Discontent Over Domestic Issues
On domestic matters, opinions are less favorable. Americans aren’t impressed with Trump’s performance even on immigration, which is typically a strong suit for Republican presidents.
About 40% of adults support his handling of immigration, which is consistent with previous numbers but slightly down from his second term’s beginning. Only about one-third of adults approve of his economic policies, a critical issue for many people, and that figure has remained steady.
Healthcare, another area of focus for Trump, is still a significant topic amid the ongoing government shutdown. Similar to September, around 30% of U.S. adults approve of his leadership in this area, with nearly all Democrats and about 80% of independents disapproving, as well as about a third of Republicans.
Allison Weaver, a 62-year-old independent from Roanoke, Virginia, expressed strong dissatisfaction with Trump’s second term, labeling it a “huge failure.” She criticized his immigration tactics and reacted with disbelief when discussing his healthcare achievements. “It’s frightening,” she said.
General Sentiment About Direction of the Country
Trump’s domestic agenda surfaced just as elections are approaching, with new governors set to be elected in New Jersey and Virginia next month and local elections happening in several other states. His lackluster approval ratings could spell trouble for Republican candidates wary of detaching from the president.
Many voters, about 70%, believe the country is moving in the wrong direction. While this sentiment has slightly decreased from September, it still indicates widespread concern. Republicans have become somewhat less pessimistic compared to last month, approaching pre-incident levels seen with the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, while views among Democrats and independents remain mostly unchanged.
Dean Grace, a 73-year-old Democrat from Duluth, Minnesota, spoke candidly about Trump, stating, “It’s a stretch to commend his efforts for peace in the Middle East, but I’ll give him some credit for a cease-fire. Nonetheless, I struggle to find any moral alignment with him as a Christian.”
The AP-NORC poll surveyed 1,289 adults between October 9-13, drawing from NORC’s representative AmeriSpeak panel. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.
