President Donald Trump's net approval rating remains negative, but hasn't changed much 14 days into the Iran War, polling expert Eli McKown-Dawson wrote in the latest edition of Nate Silver's Silver Bulletin blog published on Monday (March 16).

Trump is reported to have a 40.9% approval rating and a 54.7% disapproval rating for a -13.9 net approval rating, which is -0.4 less than the beginning of March. The president is currently less popular than the same point in his first term (-12.5), as well as former Presidents Joe Biden (-9.3) as many months into his lone term and Barack Obama (-7.9) at the same point of his second term.

"We’re 14 days into the Iran War. The conflict remains unpopular across most polls, although it still enjoys strong support among Republicans. Donald Trump’s approval rating, however, has been relatively stable," McKown-Dawson wrote.

"If the war results in additional American casualties, or if gas prices continue to spike, it’s entirely possible that Trump’s approval rating will decline as a result," he added.

A recent FOX News poll showed that Trump had an 87% approval rating among Republicans, though his support varies among 'Make America Great Again' and 'non-MAGA Republicans'. Trump had a 98% approval rating among respondents who identified themselves as "MAGA Republicans, but only a 63% approval among those who describe themselves as 'non-MAGA Republicans.'

Additionally, 95% of MAGA respondents said the president was focused on the right issues while 57% of non-MAGA Republicans believed the same, totaling 83% among both groups. Trump's overall approval rating was reported to be at 43% and his disapproval rating was at 57% for a -14% net approval rating. A majority 60% of respondents said the president was focused on the wrong issues while 40% said he was focused on the correct ones.

The FOX News poll nearly matched Trump's average 43.4% approval and 54.6% disapproval rating, according to Real Clear Polling, which included its poll as well as Rasmussen Reports, the Daily Mail, CBS News, CNN, Reuters/Ipsos, the Economist/YouGov and others conducted between February 17 and March 5.

Scott Sloan