Expert warns Trump's second term 'will get worse' as he hits rock bottom with key voters

President Donald Trump has hit rock bottom with several key voting blocs ahead of the 2026 midterm election, and it reveals "what could be to come," according to one political expert.

Paul Rieckhoff, host of the "Independent Americans" podcast, told CNN's Erin Burnett on "OutFront" on Thursday that Trump is losing ground with independent voters — whom he described as a barometer for political popularity — and within his own base. That could spell disaster for Trump as the 2026 midterm elections approach, he warned.

"Trump has totally bottomed out with independents. Almost everything he's doing is unpopular now," Rieckhoff said. "The Iran War, the tariffs, the ballroom, the arch. And I think it's going to get worse because now we've got Memorial Day, where people are going to be driving all across America, and they're going to see gas prices in some states over five bucks a gallon."

"Memorial Day is going to be a reminder about the human cost of war," he continued. "We did lose 13 troops in Iran, and he wants more war. He's talking about Cuba now. It seems more likely than not that he will hit Cuba. So he's bottoming out with independents. He's bottoming out within his own base with the people he promised no new wars, no foreign wars, no never-ending wars. And I think people are starting to smell what's cooking here."

"He's also got people like Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who he came after, who are now turning against him because they're empowered on Iran," he added. "They crossed him in Iran. And I think that's the beginning of what could come."

Rieckhoff's comments came at a time when polling showed Trump has lost significant ground with GOP and independent voters. A recent Quinnipiac poll found just 26% of independent voters approve of Trump's job in office. About 54% of so-called non-MAGA Republicans reported supporting Trump as well, compared to 80% of MAGA-aligned Republicans.