Trump Approval Falls to 32% as Iran War and $4 Gas Test MAGA Loyalty
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Aug 12
Trump Approval Falls to 32% as Iran War and $4 Gas Test MAGA Loyalty
2 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Aug 12
Summary
Trump’s approval has dropped to a record-low 32%, down 14 points from January 2025, with the Iran war and rising living costs driving much of the slide.
Gas prices above $4 a gallon have linked the conflict directly to household pain after Trump ordered strikes on Iran in February 2026 following failed negotiations.
Kingsport, Tennessee — a town of 58,000 anchored by a munitions plant employing about 1,000 — still backs Trump strongly, with many residents defending the war or blaming advisers and Congress instead.
Veterans make up roughly 10% of the region’s population, and abortion, religion and broader conservative identity keep many voters from crossing party lines even as they criticize prices and parts of Trump’s leadership.
Younger voters in the area report some erosion in support, but the story underscores a wider split: Trump is losing independents and traditional Republicans faster than his core MAGA base.