Trump's approval rating drops; Camp David meeting on Iran
President Trump's approval rating fell to its lowest of his second term, and he held a Camp David meeting on Iran, while also addressing Ukraine war and midterm politics.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Trump's approval rating falls as he holds Camp David talks on Iran
President Trump's approval rating has slipped to its lowest level of his second term, according to data from pollster Nate Silver. The figures show 59% disapprove, giving a net rating of minus 20. The slide coincides with rising gas prices and the resumption of the Iran war. This weekend, Mr Trump is holding a cabinet meeting at Camp David to work on a plan for Iran, his first such meeting there in his second term.
Meanwhile, the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner finally took place, four months after it was cut short by an assassination attempt. The president delivered an hour-long speech that was combative despite his promise to be tamer. He attacked celebrities, comedians and journalists, including CNN's Kaitlan Collins, and joked about running for a third term, even producing a "Trump 2028" cap. The event was held at a different venue with a much smaller crowd, about 700 guests, a quarter of the original number.
On Ukraine, the president continues to face pressure from Republicans. Senator Lindsey Graham's death helped pass a tough sanctions bill in the Senate, and there are reports that Witkoff and Kushner will visit Ukraine. Mr Trump has also been putting pressure on President Zelensky. On the domestic front, Elon Musk is reportedly stepping up his super PAC spending for the midterms, with figures of $100 million to $200 million mentioned, as Republican enthusiasm wanes.
Separately, Mr Trump's plans to remake Washington DC have drawn lawsuits from conservation groups. He is renovating the reflecting pool, proposing a triumphal arch, and building a new ballroom at the White House, which critics say is an ego project.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News | Channel 4 | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A dinner was rescheduled after an assassination attempt on President Trump, moved to a former Trump property, with about 700 guests. | · | |||
| President Trump joked about running for a third term and wore a cap reading 'Trump 2028'. | · | · | ||
| A Republican commentator said the speech was less hostile than it would have been in April. | · | · | · | |
| Elon Musk is reviving his super PAC with a potential $100-200 million for the midterm elections. | · | · | · | |
| The gunman, Cole Allen, pleaded not guilty to attempting to assassinate President Trump. | · | · | · | |
| Trump insulted Bruce Springsteen, saying he looks like hell. | · | · | · | |
| Trump is renovating the White House and proposing a triumphal arch in Washington DC, facing lawsuits, criticism over preservation, and a failed reflecting pool repaint. | · | · | · | |
| Trump personally attacked Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, and JB Pritzker. | · | · | · | |
| Trump told CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins to smile and referred to CNN as 'Fake News'. | · | · | · | |
| Trump will hold a cabinet meeting at Camp David, likely a regular meeting rather than a sensitive Iran strategy session. | · | · | · | |
| Trump's net approval rating dropped to the lowest level of his second term, with 59% disapproval, coinciding with rising gas prices and the resumption of the Iran war. | · | · | · | |
| Trump's speech included personal attacks on Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, JB Pritzker, Josh Dorsey, and Kaitlan Collins. | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
ITV1 focused on the logistics and security of the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner, highlighting the smaller crowd, the venue change, and the president's determination to hold the event despite the earlier assassination attempt. The report also briefly touched on an unrelated Thames accident, but the main emphasis was on the event's rescheduling and the heightened security.
- “Guests are just starting to arrive for the second time this year for the big political night out in Washington that is the Correspondents Association dinner.”
- “Only about a quarter of the number that were there in April will be invited tonight. Some 700.”
- “the President made it very clear in the aftermath of that that the event would be rescheduled.”
Channel 4 provided detailed coverage of Trump's speech at the dinner, including his personal attacks on celebrities, comedians and journalists, and his joke about a third term. The channel also ran a separate segment on Trump's controversial renovation projects in Washington DC, questioning his motives and the legal challenges from conservation groups.
- “Taking the stage last night at the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner, President Trump suggested he would be easing off on his original no-holds-barred speech, instead opting for something slightly tamer.”
- “He also took jabs at many of the journalists in the room, including Josh Dawsey of the Wall Street Journal”
- “Donald Trump is obsessed with building a legacy.”
Sky News focused on analysis of the dinner, with a Republican commentator defending Trump's speech as typical and not to be taken seriously, particularly the third term joke. The discussion also explored the strained relationship between Trump and the press, with the guest arguing that Trump is simply punching back at unfair coverage.
- “Well, thanks for having me, Barbara. Yeah, I think the most important fact here is just that they had the dinner, that the dinner went on.”
- “I wouldn't take it seriously. And the President surely doesn't. So he's just, again, taunting, having some fun with the press.”
- “it was probably less hostile than it would have been back in April.”
BBC News concentrated on the political and policy aspects, reporting on Trump's falling approval rating, the Camp David meeting on Iran, and the ongoing Ukraine war and midterm politics. It did not cover the White House Correspondents' Dinner, instead focusing on the president's challenges and the Republican response.
- “President Trump's net approval rating has slipped to the lowest level of his second term. That is according to data from the renowned pollster Nate Silver.”
- “The president's latest numbers show that 59% disapprove. That's a net approval rating of minus 20.”
- “This weekend, the president will be working on a plan for Iran during a weekend retreat at Camp David.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.