Takeaways from Trump's tough week, as war and gas prices take a toll

President Trump faces mounting political pressure on multiple fronts, particularly when it comes to his handling of the war and the consequences it's having on the economy. Analysis Politics Takeaways from Trump's tough week, as war and gas prices take a toll April 3, 20265:00 AM ET Domenico Montanaro President Trump speaks from the Cross Hall of the White House on April 1. Trump used the prime-time address to update the nation on the war in Iran. Alex Brandon/Pool/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Alex Brandon/Pool/Getty Images From the courts and the firing of his attorney general to tariffs, gas prices and the war in Iran, this week highlighted multiple stressors that are putting significant political pressure on President Trump in this second term. Trump was already at a low point coming into this week, and he's hit a new one — a job approval rating at 39% in an average of the polls. And, as Trump remains focused on an unpopular war with no clear end in sight, his approval rating is even worse on the issue voters continue to say they care about most: the economy. Sponsor Message So what happened over the last seven days and what does it mean? Here's a look: Saturday Millions turned out for more than 3,000 anti-Trump "No Kings" rallies across the country, from New York to Los Angeles, Minnesota to Texas. Ex-pats even rallied overseas in Paris, London and Lisbon, Portugal. Intensity of opposition to Trump is as high, or higher, than it's ever been. A recent Fox News poll, for example, found the highest level of disapproval of the president in its survey across both of his terms (59%) with nearly half saying they "strongly" disapprove. It also found 58% of respondents disapprove of the war in Iran. Tuesday Gas prices hit $4 a gallon on average. They have leapt 37%, or more than $1 a gallon, since the start of the Iran war. Business Gas crosses $4 a gallon in the U.S. for the first time in 3 years Trump also saw losses in two court cases: one related to funding for public media, the other about his White House ballroom construction. Later in the week, the National Capital Planning Commission, packed with Trump appointees, gave its own approval of the plans for the project. Wednesday Trump became the first known sitting president to go to the Supreme Court for oral arguments. He went to hear a case at the heart of his hard-line immigration approach. On Day 1 of his second term, he signed an executive order calling for birthright citizenship — which is written into the 14th Amendment of the Constitution — to no longer be granted to babies born on U.S. soil to immigrants who crossed the border illegally. Sponsor Message A majority of the Supreme Court justices, including the three conservatives he appointed in his first term, seemed skeptical of the government's case and voiced significant concerns. Law Who is an American? The Supreme Court will decide Trump stayed for his side's argument and then walked out shortly after the challengers began making theirs. He later posted to his social media platform: "We are the only Country in the World STUPID enough to allow 'Birthright' Citizenship!" (Roughly three dozen countries have birthright citizenship laws.) Then, Trump delivered eyebrow-raising remarks during a private event at the White House. Noting that the U.S. is "fighting wars," Trump said, "It's not possible for us to take care of day care, Medicaid, Medicare, all these individual things. They can do it on a state basis. You can't do it on a federal [basis]. We have to take care of one thing: military protection. We have to guard the country." The comments reflected Trump's priorities — and the heavy gravitational pull of war. That night, he gave a prime-time address on the war with Iran. On the expectation that Trump would offer a path to the war's end, markets rallied. His speech offered no such clear exit. Afterward, stock futures were down. A speech apparently designed to reassure the public and calm Wall Street jitters had the opposite effect. Middle East conflict Trump makes his case for war with Iran, saying the conflict is 'nearing completion' Thursday It was the one-year anniversary of his "Liberation Day" when Trump leveled high tariffs on countries throughout the world. Trump has suffered politically for it, as polling has shown majorities say Trump's policies, specifically his tariffs, are making things worse. Tariffs, plus surging gas prices as a result of the war, have led to just a 31% approval of Trump's handling of the economy in a new CNN/SSRS poll out this week. That's his lowest mark on an issue that was a strength in his first term — and a major reason he won a second term. Sponsor Message Economy Have Trump's tariffs worked? This is where things stand a year after 'Liberation Day' On the heels of Trump's Wednesday night address, oil prices spiked and stocks were trading sharply lower. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down more than 600 points. Stocks recovered after Iranian state media reported that the country was working with Oman on a protocol to "monitor" ships going through the Strait of Hormuz. By 1:17 p.m. ET, Trump announced Attorney G