Alaska's Voters Turn on Trump Amidst Soaring Gas Prices
President Donald Trump's popularity is waning in Alaska, where he won by 16 points in 2024. A recent poll by Navigator Research shows that his overall favorability rating is -5, with 52% of Alaskans holding an unfavorable opinion and 47% favorable.
The economy is a major concern for Alaskans, with 59% disapproving of Trump's handling of it over the past two years. Just 40% approve, while about two-thirds view the state's economy negatively.
Trump's announcement on Wednesday to fund an 807-mile liquefied natural gas pipeline in Alaska through South Korea is seen as a way to boost Republican US Sen. Dan Sullivan ahead of the November election. However, this plan may not alleviate high energy prices, which have recently spiked to record highs due to new fighting in Trump's war with Iran.
South Korea Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan downplayed the investment, stating that everything related to the project is still preliminary and subject to commercial reasonableness. This announcement has been met with skepticism, especially considering the absence of officials from South Korea or the private company pursuing the gas line at the White House meeting.