Trump’s approval rating recovers after hitting second-term low in November – what’s behind the rise?

US President Donald Trump’s approval rating fell by a few points in the latest poll released on Tuesday, recovering from 38%, the lowest it has been since taking office for a second term in January. The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, completed Monday, reported a three-point increase in Trump’s approval rating, from 38% on Nov. 18 to 41%. The most recent poll interviewed 4,434 adults across the US, and reported a margin of error of two percentage points in either direction. Meanwhile, Trump’s disapproval rating was reported at 57% in the latest poll. The US president began his second term with an approval rating of 47%, but it dropped significantly by November, due to poor performance in state elections by Republicans and a persistent attack on the Trump administration by Democrats on the issue of inflation. So what’s behind the rise in Trump’s approval rating? The latest poll found that Trump fared relatively better on the issue of cost of living, where he received a 31% approval rating, compared to 26% in the Nov. 18 poll. This overall boost to his approval rating on the cost-of-living issue was largely bolstered by Republicans’ improved views of his handling of the economy. Reuters reported that Trump had a 10 percentage point gain among Republicans on the cost of living issue in the latest poll, with 69% of GOP members now rating him favorably. Republicans’ view of the president has also improved overall, to 85% in the latest poll from 82% last month. Reuters went on to say that the latest surge in Trump’s popularity was fueled in part by a small increase in his approval ratings among Hispanics — approval for Trump within the ethnic group improved to 34% in the latest poll, up from 32% in late November. Despite the rise in Trump’s approval rating, particularly on the cost of living issue, inflation remains a sticky issue for the US president, with inflation reported at 3% in the 12 months to September, a percentage point above the historical norm of around 2%. Yet Trump has so far dismissed the Democratic Party’s focus on the issue, even describing it as a “hoax.” With debate raging over the issue of inflation, Trump is also scheduled to give a speech Tuesday on economic issues, especially affordability, in Pennsylvania, a battleground state.