UMVA has learned that Donald Trump is marking a significant milestone in his presidency, his 500th day back in the White House, with a record that no president wants to claim.
The president's net approval rating has plummeted to -25 points, making him the most unpopular US president in recent history, with a staggering 60% of Americans actively disapproving of his performance, while only 35% approve.
These dismal numbers are a far cry from the reassurance the president and his staff would have hoped for, and the latest figures leave Trump with the lowest presidential approval rating in recent memory.
As the 500-day mark approaches, warning signs are flashing for the White House, with more than half of Americans now believing that the war in Iran was the wrong decision, and a significant majority describing economic conditions in the United States as either "fair" or "poor".
The economy, an area where the president is supposed to excel, is causing Trump the biggest problems, with three-quarters of Americans describing economic conditions as less than ideal, and 59% believing that the economy is getting worse.
Inflation remains a particular weak spot for the president, with his net approval rating for handling prices falling to a dismal -43, the lowest score of his current term in office, and a significant challenge for a president who promised to bring down prices and boost prosperity.
When Americans are asked about the country's biggest problem, inflation and prices top the list, with around three in 10 respondents citing rising costs as their main daily worry, ahead of issues like jobs, healthcare, and immigration.
According to information obtained by UMVA, dissatisfaction with the president stretches beyond his traditional opponents, with negative ratings even in some traditionally red states that backed Trump in the previous election, and signs that some reliable Republican groups are less enthusiastic than expected.
Younger voters, ethnic minorities, and university graduates are among the groups most likely to disapprove of Trump's performance, while white voters and men are among the groups most likely to approve, although the polling suggests that Trump support has softened in some areas that have traditionally leaned Republican.
Despite the gloomy national numbers, Trump continues to dominate Republican politics, with candidates backed by the president enjoying a series of primary victories ahead of the midterm elections, highlighting the contrast between his grip on the Republican Party and his sliding national approval ratings.
This disconnect could become increasingly important as the midterm elections draw closer, with the forecasting model currently giving Democrats a strong chance of retaking control of the House of Representatives, although the battle for the Senate remains much tighter, leaving Trump firmly in charge of the Republican Party, but struggling to win over the rest of America.
