WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's job approval rating held near a record low ahead of the November 3, 2026 US midterm elections, with 32 percent of respondents approving of his performance in a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Monday. The poll, which surveyed 1,765 US adults online with a margin of error of two percentage points, showed Democrats with an eight-point lead over Republicans in the generic congressional ballot, 46 percent to 38 percent, a narrowing from an 11-point advantage a week earlier. Among independent voters, 50 percent said their vote in congressional elections was intended to oppose Trump, compared with 13 percent who said it was a vote in his favor and 33 percent who said the president was not a factor. Inflation and the cost of living emerged as the top issue, with 78 percent of respondents calling it a very important or the most important factor in their vote. On the issue, Democrats led Republicans 43 percent to 32 percent. Trump wrapped up his midterm campaign push on Monday with a rally at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC, where he defended his renovation plans for the capital, including a 'Triumphal Arch' facing legal challenges. Trump acknowledged the political norm that sitting presidents typically do not win midterm elections, saying: 'For some reason, the sitting president doesn't win the midterms. But we gave this a very strong shot.' The president is not on the ballot but has urged supporters to vote as if voting for him, warning that Democrats may seek impeachment if Republicans lose control of Congress. The Reuters/Ipsos poll also noted that petrol and diesel prices have risen since the US-Israel conflict with Iran began in late February, contributing to voter economic concerns.