Trump’s approval stays low as Iran war drives prices higher

Donald Trump’s approval rating stayed stuck at 36% as the Iran war pushed gasoline higher, rattled shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and began feeding price pressure into consumer goods far from the battlefield.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll concluded April 21 found Trump’s job approval unchanged from a month earlier at 36%. The same survey showed how weak his personal standing remained: only 26% of Americans described him as even-tempered, and 51% said his mental sharpness had gotten worse over the past year. A separate AP-NORC poll taken April 16-20 found Trump’s overall approval at 33%, down from 38% last month.

The pressure is showing up most sharply on the economy. In the AP-NORC survey, Trump’s approval on economic management fell to 30% from 38% in March. Only 32% approved of his leadership on Iran, and about one-quarter approved of how he has handled the cost of living. That combination is politically dangerous for a president whose party is trying to defend House and Senate majorities heading into the midterm elections.

The economic consequences of the Iran war are not limited to fuel pumps. Karex Bhd, the world’s largest condom maker, said it may raise prices by 20% to 30% if supply-chain disruptions continue. The company, based in Johor, Malaysia, said shortages of synthetic rubber and higher freight costs have pushed some input costs to double, while shipments to Europe and the United States that normally take about a month are now taking close to two months.

Goh Miah Kiat, Karex’s chief executive, said demand for condoms has risen about 30% this year. Karex produces about 5 billion condoms a year and exports to more than 130 countries, supplying brands including Trojan and Durex. The company’s warning is a reminder of how quickly a conflict in the Middle East can move through freight routes, factory costs and store shelves before it reaches the public as one more reason to feel squeezed.

For Trump, that chain from war to prices to household irritation is the political problem. When a conflict raises the cost of gasoline, synthetic rubber and shipping, voters do not experience it as geopolitics. They experience it as a tighter budget, and as a presidency that has not yet persuaded them the economic burden is easing.