Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds 36% Approve Trump’s Job Performance Amid Iran War And Pope Feud

A Reuters/Ipsos poll concluded on Monday found that President Donald Trump’s approval rating held at the lowest of his term in recent days, as many Americans questioned his temperament amid the Iran war and a feud with Pope Leo.

The six-day public opinion poll showed only 36% of Americans approve of Trump’s job performance, unchanged from a month earlier, according to Reuters.

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The poll found Trump enjoyed the highest approval rating of his current term, 47%, shortly after he was sworn in to office on January 20, 2025, Reuters reported.

The Times of Israel echoed that the six-day poll “shows only 36 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s job performance, unchanged from a month earlier,” and also cited the 47% figure after the January 20, 2025 swearing-in.

USA Today similarly reported that the survey released on April 21 showed that 36% of Americans approve of Trump’s job performance.

The poll’s sample size was 4,557 U.S. adults nationwide, conducted online, with a margin of error of 2 percentage points, Reuters said, and USA Today and The Times of Israel both described the same Reuters/Ipsos poll.

In the same Reuters/Ipsos polling, 36% of Americans approved of U.S. military strikes against Iran, compared with 35% in a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted April 10-12, Reuters reported.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll placed temperament and mental sharpness at the center of Americans’ doubts about Trump, with only 26% saying they consider him “even-tempered.”

Reuters reported that “Only 26% of Americans said they consider Trump “even-tempered.””

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It also found Republicans were divided, with 53% considering him even-tempered and 46% saying he is not, while only 7% of Democrats saw Trump as even-tempered.

USA Today described the same split, saying “Around 53% of Republicans polled consider the president even-tempered, while 46% of GOP supporters say Trump isn't,” and that “about 92% of Democratic voters polled said Trump is not even-tempered.”

The Times of Israel similarly stated that “Only 26% of Americans say they consider Trump “even-tempered.”” and that “Only 7% of Democrats see Trump as even-tempered.”

Beyond temperament, Reuters reported that 51% of Americans said Trump’s mental sharpness had gotten “worse” over the past year, including 14% of Republicans, 54% of independents and 85% of Democrats.

USA Today added that the poll found “about 51% of Americans believe Trump's mental sharpness has worsened, while 40% think it has stayed the same,” and it broke down the party views with 14% of Republicans, 85% of Democrats, and 54% of independents.

Reuters linked the temperament concerns to Trump’s recent public outbursts, describing “explosive outbursts” and citing profane threats and attacks on Pope Leo.

Reuters said Trump posted a threat on social media to “wipe out Iran’s civilization” and attacked Pope Leo as weak on crime following the pontiff’s criticism of the Iran war.

Reuters also reported that Trump has threatened “to destroy all of Iran’s bridges and power plants” and that he alarmed allies earlier this year by threatening military force against NATO ally Denmark over his demand for U.S. annexation of Greenland.

USA Today similarly referenced “a series of profane social media posts, including threats to Iran that 'a whole civilization will die' and clashes with Pope Leo XIV.”

Reuters described the poll as being conducted during a fragile ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. that was due to expire on Tuesday.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll also asked Americans about their views of Pope Leo, with Reuters reporting that “Some 60% of respondents said they had a favorable view of Pope Leo, compared with 36% who said the same of Trump.”

USA Today and Dailyvoice both repeated the favorable-view contrast, with USA Today stating “About 60% said they had a favorable view of the pope, compared to 36% for Trump.”

The Reuters/Ipsos poll also measured Americans’ views on U.S. military action in Iran and on NATO, showing mixed support that Reuters tied to economic pressure from gasoline prices.

Reuters reported that “Some 36% of Americans approve of U.S. military strikes against Iran, compared with 35% in a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted April 10-12,” and it said “Only 26% of respondents in the poll said the U.S. military action in Iran has been worth its costs.”

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Reuters added that “Only 25% of respondents - including 6% of Democrats and 57% of Republicans - said they thought U.S. strikes on Iran would make America safer.”

USA Today echoed the same numbers, stating “Only 25 percent of respondents said US strikes on Iran would make the country safer, while 26 percent said the military action has been worth the cost.”

On NATO, Reuters reported that “The poll found only 16% of Americans back a U.S. exit from the NATO alliance, a move Trump has threatened,” and USA Today likewise said “Support for a US exit from NATO remains limited, with 16 percent backing the idea.”

Dailyvoice’s local repost repeated the NATO figure at “with 16 percent backing the idea,” and it also stated that “Only 25 percent of respondents said US strikes on Iran would make the country safer, while 26 percent said the military action has been worth the cost.”

Reuters connected the foreign-policy skepticism to personal finances by reporting that “The war with Iran triggered a surge in gasoline prices that has hit most Americans’ personal finances,” and it said Trump’s approval rating on handling the cost of living was “26%, tied for the lowest reading yet for him.”

The poll’s findings, as presented by Reuters and repeated by other outlets, suggest that Trump’s standing is being tested on both leadership style and the costs of foreign conflict as the Iran war approaches a key timeline.

Reuters said the six-day public opinion poll was “concluded on Monday,” and it was conducted during a “fragile ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. that was due to expire on Tuesday,” placing the results in a narrow window of heightened uncertainty.

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USA Today described the same context by saying the approval rating remains at its lowest level since he returned to the White House, “according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll,” as the country faces “a potential escalation of the Iran war.”

The poll’s numbers were also tied to economic strain, with Reuters stating that “The war with Iran triggered a surge in gasoline prices that has hit most Americans’ personal finances,” and it reported that Trump’s approval rating on handling the cost of living was “26%, tied for the lowest reading yet for him.”

Dailyvoice’s local repost similarly emphasized that “economic concerns tied to rising gasoline prices” were part of the public opinion snapshot, while still centering the even-tempered question at “Just 26 percent of respondents.”

Across the coverage, the poll’s party splits remained consistent, with Reuters reporting that only 7% of Democrats saw Trump as even-tempered and that 85% of Democrats said his mental sharpness had gotten “worse.”

With the poll’s margin of error of 2 percentage points and its online survey of 4,557 adults, Reuters said the results were precise enough to show stable approval at 36% while other measures—like temperament and mental sharpness—showed deeper dissatisfaction.