Americans are pinning high prices on President Donald Trump as midterms near. An AP-NORC Center poll conducted Sept. 24–28 among 2,140 adults finds 65% say higher-than-usual prices result from Trump’s policies, Fortune and AP-NORC report. Only 26% approve of his handling of the economy — a new low — and 17% approve of his handling of the cost of living. Sixty-nine percent say his cost-of-living performance has been worse than expected, including about half of Republicans.

The same survey shows 71% disapprove of Trump’s handling of Iran and 69% say the war has not been worth fighting. Trade ratings are weak: 68% disapprove of his trade negotiations and 64% say new tariffs have gone too far. Immigration remains a relative bright spot, with 39% approving. About half of adults say the country, the national economy, and their local economy are worse off since his 2025 reelection; 46% say their families are worse off. Overall job approval sits near three in 10.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, speaking to the Washington Examiner, said the Iran war “sort of trumped everything else” in midterm messaging even as affordability and energy costs weigh on campaigns. For voters watching grocery and gas tabs, the poll’s stake is whether price blame or war politics drives turnout on Nov. 3. Margin of error is ±2.9 points. Watch battleground Senate ads, diesel prices after the G7 release, and whether GOP candidates nationalize or localize their races as Thune advises.

What we know:
AP-NORC finds 65% blame Trump for high prices, 26% economy approval, 17% cost-of-living approval, and deep Iran disapproval five weeks from midterms.
What we don’t:
Whether price blame or war intensity will dominate late persuasion and turnout in jump-ball Senate races.