President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to new lows in two polls released Wednesday, Oct. 21, as voters voice dissatisfaction with his handling of living costs and the war in Iran less than two weeks before the midterm elections. In a New York Times-Siena University survey, 36% of likely voters approved of Trump’s performance and 59% disapproved. The Times said the approval figure was the lowest in its polling with Siena across Trump’s two terms. A CNN/SSRS poll put his approval at 32%, seven points below the network’s final pre-midterm reading in 2018, when Democrats gained 41 House seats and won control of the chamber. The findings offer a difficult backdrop for Republicans heading into Election Day, with limited time to persuade voters that the administration is addressing their concerns about everyday costs and the conflict with Iran. The polls do not determine election outcomes, but they indicate that Trump’s standing could pose a challenge for candidates in his party. The surveys also suggest erosion among groups that helped Trump in the 2024 election, including men, younger voters and Hispanic voters. Among white voters without a college degree—a key constituency for Trump and the GOP—48% approved of his job performance and 46% disapproved in the Times poll.