President Donald Trump’s approval rating on foreign policy has slid to six points underwater following his Sunday announcement of a naval blockade at the Strait of Hormuz. The shift represents the sharpest decline across any single issue for the administration in the latest Morning Consult tracking.
While the President maintains a 44% overall approval rating, he faces growing deficits on key domestic and international fronts as Congress returns to session this week.
The administration’s pivot toward a naval blockade coincides with a new trade push. The White House is moving forward with Section 232 tariffs on copper, pharmaceuticals, steel, and aluminum.
This marks the first major trade move since the Supreme Court invalidated IEEPA-based tariffs in February. Public sentiment on the strategy remains lukewarm; trade approval is slightly negative, and nearly 30% of voters—the highest opposition for any listed issue—believe tariffs should not be implemented at all. Currently, only 20% of the electorate considers tariffs a top priority.
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On Capitol Hill, intraparty friction has stalled several legislative efforts, including the SAVE America Act, Department of Homeland Security funding, and bills regarding aviation safety and housing.
This gridlock contributes to a broader sentiment that the Republican Party is on the “wrong track,” a view held by 51% of voters, including over half of all independents.
On energy, voters now trust Democrats over Republicans by a three-point margin, leaving the President three points underwater on the issue.
The political pressure extends to the Senate, where the Cook Political Report identifies seven highly competitive races.
Republican incumbents face significant headwinds in Maine and Alaska, where Senators Susan Collins and Dan Sullivan are both roughly 20 points underwater. Sullivan’s approval rating dropped by 10 points this quarter, while Collins saw a seven-point decline.
In Ohio, Republican Jon Husted is facing a visibility challenge, with 25% of voters reporting no opinion of him as he seeks a full term.
READ: Trump Claims Near-Total Destruction Of Iranian Navy, Issues Warning To Remaining Vessels
Democrats are also defending territory in Georgia, New Hampshire, and Michigan. While Senator Jon Ossoff is statistically considered the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent, his approval ratings have remained stable, and he currently maintains a double-digit lead over potential Republican challengers in outside polling.
Open-seat races in Michigan and New Hampshire remain in the primary phase as both parties look toward the fall midterms, where Democrats currently hold a four-point lead on the generic ballot.
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