Americans are turning against Trump's handling of economy, prices

Polls reveal growing dissatisfaction with President Trump's economic stewardship and the rising cost of living in the United States. A mere 17% of adults approve of how Trump is managing living expenses, while just 26% back his overall handling of the economy, according to a recent Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey. This marks a 14-point decline in economic approval since March 2025.

A significant 65% of Americans attribute high prices to Trump's policies rather than external factors. The poll was taken as the nation heads into midterm elections, with Republicans striving to maintain control of Congress, and Trump campaigning across the country. Concerns over essential expenses, such as fuel and groceries, have risen sharply, with half of U.S. adults expressing extreme or very serious worry about affording petrol, a sharp increase from 39% in July. Similarly, a comparable share feels highly concerned about the cost of food.

Many Trump supporters acknowledge their president's shortcomings. Retired factory worker Robert Gault, a registered Republican from Pennsylvania, expressed disappointment, stating, "I thought he was going to help the country, and so far he has not really seemed to have done that with the economy or in general." Pedro Sanchez, a California law enforcement officer who supported Trump, noted the increasing financial strain: "Prices are 'extremely exorbitant. Just the cost of everything is going up as a result of fuel."

Despite these concerns, Republicans are more likely than the general populace to blame non-policy factors for the price hikes. About 67% of Republicans believe external influences, not Trump's policies, drive the current inflation. Tariffs, the Iran war, and the broader economic situation under Biden have also been singled out by Trump supporters as significant contributors to the economic woes.

While Trump's overall presidential approval hovers around 30%, a Wall Street Journal poll shows his economic approval at 26%, matching former President Biden's rating in June 2022, when inflation was at its peak during the Covid-19 pandemic.