President Donald Trump’s popularity among the American public has been eroding steadily since he returned to the White House in January last year.

While some of this is typical for second-term American presidents, Trump’s initial decline also reflects ongoing public dissatisfaction with high prices and the cost of living - issues that have propelled Democrats to wins in a growing number of elections over the past year.

According to data by election analysis website The Downballot, Democrats did an average of 13% better in contested special elections in 2025 than they did in the same districts during the 2024 presidential election.

The war in Iran has only exacerbated these economic concerns.