Trump approval rating falls to 33 percent as Iran war deadline expires without deal

US President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 33 percent, the lowest level of his current presidency, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that concluded on 17 August 2026.

Sixty-four percent of respondents disapproved of his performance. Eighty percent expected US involvement in the war with Iran to continue for an extended period. The poll coincides with the expiration of the 60-day temporary ceasefire and memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran without a broader settlement.

Trump has ruled out extending the interim agreement, called on Iran to surrender, and threatened to bomb Oman if it obstructed American efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on Washington’s preferred terms. Iranian officials have said they will shift to a fully offensive posture if diplomacy fails and have warned of a military response to the US naval blockade.

Oil prices rose more than $2 a barrel on 17 August as markets priced in prolonged supply uncertainty. Brent crude moved above $91. Sovereign borrowing costs also climbed, with the yield on 30-year US Treasuries reaching its highest level since 2007.

The combination of military stalemate, threats against a traditional US ally, and domestic approval erosion marks a difficult phase for the administration’s Middle East policy.