Public sentiment towards President Trump has turned negative as economic anxiety rises, with a recent CNN poll revealing that many Americans believe he is prioritizing the wrong issues.
Public sentiment toward President Donald Trump has shifted significantly during his first year back in the White House, according to a new national survey conducted by CNN in partnership with SSRS. The poll reveals a challenging landscape for both the president and the Republican Party as they approach a pivotal midterm election cycle. A majority of Americans feel that Trump is focusing on the wrong priorities and is failing to adequately address the rising cost of living.
The survey indicates that 58 percent of Americans view Trump’s first year of his second term as a failure. This perception underscores a lack of positive momentum for the administration, particularly regarding the economy, which voters overwhelmingly identify as the nation’s most pressing concern.
When asked to identify the country’s top issue, respondents overwhelmingly chose the economy, with nearly double the support compared to any other topic. However, the poll suggests that Trump has struggled to convince the public that his policies are effectively improving economic conditions.
Views on the current economy remain largely unchanged from previous years, with only about 30 percent of Americans rating economic conditions as good. A notable decline has occurred in optimism about the future; just over 40 percent expect the economy to be in good shape a year from now, a decrease from 56 percent recorded just before Trump took office last January.
A majority of respondents, 55 percent, believe that Trump’s policies have worsened economic conditions, while only 32 percent think they have led to improvements. Nearly two-thirds of Americans feel that the president has not done enough to reduce the prices of everyday goods, highlighting the political risks posed by ongoing inflation and cost-of-living pressures.
This dissatisfaction is not limited to the general public; it extends into Trump’s own party. Approximately 42 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning voters who identify with the Make America Great Again movement believe the president should be doing more to address rising prices, indicating unease even within his core base.
The poll also highlights a growing perception that Trump is disconnected from the concerns of ordinary Americans. Only 36 percent of respondents say he has the right priorities, a drop from 45 percent at the beginning of his term. Furthermore, only one-third of Americans believe he cares about people like them, marking the lowest rating of his political career in this regard.
Only 37 percent of Americans feel that Trump prioritizes the good of the country over his personal interests, and just 32 percent believe he understands the everyday problems faced by citizens. Even among those who approve of his presidency, more than a quarter express that he is out of touch with their daily struggles.
“Even if he is doing some good in areas, he comes across very self-seeking and shows a lack of caring about the common good of our citizens,” remarked an independent voter from Oklahoma who participated in the survey.
Concerns about Trump’s leadership capacity persist. Fewer than half of respondents believe he has the stamina and sharpness to serve effectively, and only 35 percent express pride in having him as president.
Trump’s overall job approval rating currently stands at 39 percent, with perceptions of his presidency largely remaining in negative territory. While his approval was around 48 percent early in his second term, it fell sharply within the first 100 days and has since fluctuated between the high 30s and low 40s.
The poll reveals a familiar pattern: Trump retains strong loyalty among Republicans but struggles to expand his appeal beyond that base. Nearly nine in ten Republicans approve of his performance, and support among self-identified MAGA voters is nearly universal.
<p“He’s not perfect, but he’s actually getting results in what he’s doing,” stated a Republican respondent from Tennessee.
However, outside of this base, support for Trump is limited. His approval rating among independents is just 29 percent, and he receives almost no backing from Democrats. Approval has also declined among younger adults and Latino voters, with only 30 percent of each group expressing support, a significant drop from earlier in his term.
During his first presidency, Trump often enjoyed higher approval ratings for economic management compared to his overall ratings. Early in his second term, immigration briefly emerged as a relative strength and remains a key motivator for his supporters. Among those who approve of Trump, immigration is the most frequently cited reason for their support.
However, among the broader public, Trump now lacks a standout issue. His approval ratings across various policy areas—including the economy, immigration, foreign policy, health care, and federal government management—cluster tightly around his overall 39 percent mark.
Beyond economic anxiety, concerns about American democracy are also significant. A majority of Americans believe Trump has overstepped his bounds in using presidential and executive power, with this figure rising to 58 percent from 52 percent near the start of his term.
Most respondents also feel he has overreached in attempts to reshape cultural institutions and in cutting federal programs. Roughly half believe he has gone too far in altering how the federal government functions.
While many Americans still expect Trump’s presidency to bring significant change, the proportion who believe those changes will permanently reshape the country has declined. More voters now anticipate that the impact of his policies will diminish over time.
As the midterm elections approach, the poll underscores the central challenge facing Trump and his party: an electorate deeply concerned about the economy and increasingly skeptical that the president is focused on the priorities that matter most to them, according to CNN.