"40% Also Collapsed" Biden Approval Rating Hits All-Time Low

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] A poll has revealed that U.S. President Joe Biden's approval rating has hit an all-time low during his visit to Korea.

According to the Associated Press (AP) on the 20th (local time), a poll conducted jointly with the University of Chicago's National Opinion Research Center (NORC) showed that only 39% of respondents gave a positive evaluation of President Biden's job performance. This is the lowest figure recorded in the same survey. It is the first time in an AP poll that Biden's approval rating has fallen below 40%.

Only 2 out of 10 respondents said that the United States is heading in the right direction and that the economy is good. In a survey conducted a month ago, 3 out of 10 responded positively. At that time, 49% of Democratic supporters gave a positive evaluation, which has now dropped to 33%.

Only 18% of respondents said that President Biden's policies have helped economic recovery. Meanwhile, 51% claimed that the economy has worsened due to Biden's policies.

Regarding Biden's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, negative evaluations (54%) outweighed positive ones (45%). However, support was high among Democratic supporters (73%) depending on political orientation.

Biden's approval rating falling to its lowest level is interpreted as being due to the highest inflation in the U.S. in about 40 years and concerns over economic slowdown. Recent shootings in various places including Buffalo, New York, and the baby formula crisis have also had a negative impact. This is expected to act as a setback in the midterm elections in the second half of the year.

The political media outlet The Hill reported, "Biden's approval rating is continuously being hit by rising prices," adding, "Prices for oil, groceries, airfare, and overall costs have surged sharply, and the Biden administration is struggling with supply chain issues and the baby formula problem."

President Biden, on his first Asia tour since taking office, will hold the first Korea-U.S. summit with President Yoon Seok-yeol in Korea on the 21st. His schedule includes visits to Korea and Japan until the 24th.