Trump approval hits 33% as Iran war drags into sixth month

Summary

This Telegraph bonus episode examines how the ongoing US-Iran war is influencing the November 2026 midterm elections. Hosts and Washington correspondents Ben Smith and Poppy Wood discuss Trump's record-low approval ratings, rising oil prices from Strait of Hormuz disruptions, chaos and leadership turnover at the Pentagon under Secretary Pete Hegseth, and voter sentiment in the border town of Laredo, Texas. The segment explores Republican candidates' reluctance to distance from Trump, Democratic focus on affordability and a generational shift on Israel policy, and immigration enforcement's local effects.

Reporting draws on Reuters reports, unnamed Republican sources, local interviews in Laredo, and references to Pentagon leaks and classified documents later removed from systems. Guests highlight economic fallout, military morale concerns, and how the war has amplified existing second-term headwinds for Trump.

Editorial Assessment

The claims largely hold up against contemporaneous polling and reporting: Trump's approval has hovered in the low-to-mid 30s throughout much of 2026 amid the Iran conflict, with strong disapproval of his war handling; Brent crude has traded above $90 amid renewed disruptions. Border crossing statistics align with official CBP data showing sharp declines under Trump policies. Pentagon turmoil, including Army Secretary Driscoll's resignation and dozens of senior officer departures under Hegseth, is corroborated by multiple outlets. Viewers may miss broader context that economic discontent predates the current flare-up, that midterm outcomes depend on many races beyond Texas, and that public fatigue with foreign wars is bipartisan. The framing leans toward portraying the war as a self-inflicted political wound for Republicans, with limited exploration of strategic rationales for preventing Iranian nuclear capability or counter-views on immigration gains.