The Republicans are facing a potentially disastrous set of midterm election results - and the approval figures make for grim reading for Donald Trump.
asserted
figures → face → Trump
The US president is struggling in the polls, including with Republicans, as Americans grow weary over the economic impact of his war on Iran and his aggressive use of tariffs.
asserted
Americans → struggle → tariffs
Several states that were once solidly Republican could turn blue in the senate this year as a result of widespread voter discontent.
Thirty-five Senate seats are up for re-election this year, and Democrats need to win at least four seats to gain net seats.
uncertain
Democrats → turn → seats
Most polling indicates that Democrats hold tight leads across most battleground states.
asserted
Democrats → indicate → states
The Independent takes a look at why Americans feel so disillusioned with the Trump administration as cost-of-living pressures increase - and looks at just how unpopular the US president has become.
asserted
president → take → living
Inflation rates rising
Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation has dramatically increased this year as a result of Trump’s war on Iran and the global shock caused to supply chains by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
asserted
inflation → rise → Hormuz
The 12-month percentage increase represents the annual pace of inflation by tracking the changes in what people pay for a basket of everyday goods and services compared to the same month one year ago.
It is an important measure cost-of-living pressures as it removes seasonal swings from the data, to show how household purchasing power has eroded over the previous 12 months.
asserted
power → represent → months
While inflation was brought from a 12-month percentage increase of 3% in January 2025 down to 2.4% March 2025, it rose dramatically to 4.2% by May 2026.
uncertain
it → bring → May
Gas and energy shoot up
Gas prices have sharply increased since the war on Iran was launched and the subsequent blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran.
asserted
war → increase → Iran
The 12-month percentage increase peaked at 40.5% in May 2026, following two months of war.
uncertain
increase → peak → war
After falling to the mid-twenties over the summer, it again increased to 34.2% in September.
asserted
it → fall → September
New research last month put a dollar and cents figure on just how bad the increases have been.
asserted
increases → put → figure
U.S. drivers who fill their tanks with unleaded gas now spend an average $66.86 more a month than they did in October 2025, according to national averages Monday.
uncertain
they → fill → averages
The average diesel driver is spending $139.32 more a month than last year, according to data from motor club AAA and independent marketplace Electric Choice.
uncertain
driver → spend → AAA
Gas and diesel prices are up $1.23 and $2.83 per gallon compared to a year ago, respectively, according to AAA.
uncertain
prices → compare → AAA
The price of energy overall, also including electricity and home heating products, peaked at a 12-month increase of 23.5% in May and recently shot up to 20.4% in September.
uncertain
price → include → September
Before the war, around one fifth of the world’s daily oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply passed through Hormuz.
asserted
fifth → liquefy → Hormuz
But Trump’s efforts to pressure Tehran into ending its blockade, both through force and negotiations, have so far failed.
asserted
efforts → pressure → force
The price of all food steadily rose over the first year of Trump’s second administration, having started rising during the final months of the Biden administration in late 2024.
asserted
price → rise → 2024
The 12-month percentage increase for all food rose from 2.5% when Trump took office to 3.2% in August 2025, again peaking at 3.2% in April 2026.
asserted
Trump → rise → April
Food prices have increased due to a combination of tight labor markets, climate disruption, and trade policies - not least Trump’s aggressive tariff policies.
asserted
prices → increase → markets
Eating out is also becoming more expensive for Americans under Trump, having steadily declined in the latter months of the Biden era until he stepped down.
asserted
he → eat → era
The 12-month percentage increase for ‘food away from home’ sat at 3.4% in January 2025, rising to 4.1% in December 2025.
asserted
increase → sit → December
Trump struggles in the polls
The US president has struggled in the polls since reassuming office in January 2025, with his disapproval rating steadily increasing.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll last week showed Trump's overall rating at 32% heading into the midterms.
asserted
poll → struggle → midterms
The survey showed registered voters favoring Democrats over Republicans on the generic congressional ballot, 47% to 36%, with the lead holding among likely voters at 53% to 44%.
asserted
lead → show → 44
The dismal numbers arrive just weeks before midterm elections that will determine whether Republicans maintain control of Congress.
asserted
Republicans → arrive → Congress
Approval of the Republican president on the economy overall has slipped to 21%, a new low for Trump’s second administration, according to the Pew Research Center.
uncertain
Approval → slip → Center
US adults are also dismayed with Trump’s handling of the economy, with his economic ratings from Democrats at historic lows while the number of Republicans that approve of his economic actions is declining.
asserted
that → dismay → actions
Around 36% of Republicans believe the economy is in a good shape, down from 41% in July.
asserted
economy → believe → July
Two thirds (65%) say Trump’s economic policies have made things worse, while just one in five (19%) say they have made conditions better.
asserted
conditions → say → ?
And Americans hold little hope for improvement in the coming year.
asserted
Americans → hold → year
Only one quarter (26%) of Americans expect economic conditions to be better in a tear, while 34% say they will be the same and four-in-ten (39%) say they will become worse.
asserted
they → expect → ten
The Aporia
