A new CNN poll conducted by SSRS reveals that a majority of Americans are dissatisfied with President Donald Trump’s handling of the economy, despite his approval ratings on other key issues reaching some of their highest levels during his presidency.
With financial markets experiencing declines and investors expressing concerns over Trump’s trade policies, 56% of Americans disapprove of his economic management—the worst rating he has received on this issue during his presidency. In contrast, 51% of respondents approve of his immigration policies, particularly his stricter enforcement measures, marking a 7-point increase from previous approval levels during his tenure.
Public opinion is divided regarding Trump’s management of the federal budget and government operations, with 48% approving and about half disapproving in both areas. His approval ratings are even lower for health care policy (43%), foreign affairs (42%), and tariffs (39%).
Currently, Trump’s overall job approval stands at 45%, while 54% disapprove. These figures align with his ratings from March 2017 and match the highest approval ratings of his presidency. Meanwhile, 35% of Americans believe the country is on the right track—an increase from 29% in January, driven largely by a surge in optimism among Republicans. However, Trump’s approval remains highly polarized, with Republicans being roughly ten times more likely than Democrats to view his performance favorably.
A broad consensus exists across party lines that Trump has taken a unique approach to presidential power. An overwhelming 86% of Americans, including more than three-quarters of both Democrats and Republicans, believe his exercise of presidential authority differs significantly from past presidents. Nearly half (49%) consider this a negative shift, while 37% see it as a positive change. Only 14% believe his governing style aligns with historical presidential norms.
Economic Concerns Dominate Voter Priorities
Economic issues remain the primary concern for Americans, with 42% ranking the economy as the top issue out of a list of seven. This is more than twice the percentage who identified any other issue as their biggest concern, including democracy (19%), the functioning of the federal government (14%), immigration (12%), health care (6%), foreign policy (3%), and climate change (2%).
Across party lines, the economy remains a key focus. Among Democrats, concerns about democracy slightly outweigh economic worries (36% versus 33%). However, among Republicans and independents, the economy is the dominant concern, with 45% in both groups selecting it as the top issue.
Trump’s perceived ability to deliver change and effectively manage the government has improved since his first term. Currently, 50% of Americans believe he can bring necessary change, and 49% think he can manage the government efficiently. Both figures have risen from 43% and 42%, respectively, in November 2019. Additionally, 51% believe Trump possesses the stamina and mental sharpness required for the job, though fewer consider him an effective world leader (46%) or believe he respects the rule of law (38%).
Concerns Over Musk’s Role and Government Downsizing
Trump’s return to office has been marked by efforts to cut federal spending and reduce the government workforce. However, the public’s reaction to these initiatives—and to the prominent role Trump has given tech billionaire Elon Musk—has been largely negative.
Only 35% of Americans hold a favorable view of Musk, compared to 53% who view him negatively, with 11% expressing no opinion. This makes Musk both more recognizable and more unpopular than Vice President JD Vance, whom 33% view positively and 44% unfavorably, with 23% undecided.
Skepticism about Musk’s role in government is widespread. About 60% of Americans believe he lacks the necessary experience and judgment to influence government operations. Even among Trump supporters who back government reform, 28% doubt Musk’s ability to carry out such changes effectively.
Public opinion is also split on Trump’s government reforms. A majority (55%) believe his administration’s changes are primarily intended to advance his political agenda, while 45% see them as necessary for improving government efficiency.
When asked about the potential impact of Trump’s federal budget cuts, 62% express concern that the reductions could go too far and result in the elimination of essential programs. Meanwhile, 37% worry that the cuts do not go far enough in eliminating fraud and waste. Partisan divisions are stark: 90% of Democrats and 69% of independents fear the loss of crucial government programs, while 73% of Republicans are more concerned about the persistence of government inefficiencies.
Lingering Doubts From Trump’s First Term
Many of the opinions surrounding Trump’s second presidency mirror those from his first term. Only 40% of Americans believe he genuinely cares about people like them, and just 34% think he can unite the country—figures that remain largely unchanged since 2019.
Strong disapproval of Trump’s presidency continues to surpass strong approval. In this latest survey, 41% of Americans say they strongly disapprove of Trump, compared to 26% who strongly approve.
A consistent trend throughout Trump’s political career has been the public’s skepticism about whether he has the right priorities. In the latest poll, 57% say he has not focused on the country’s most pressing issues. Furthermore, 59% of respondents consider Trump’s views and policies to be too extreme, up slightly from 54% of registered voters who held this view last September, just before his reelection.
Despite widespread criticism, some Americans express nuanced opinions about Trump’s policies and leadership. For instance, 12% approve of his handling of immigration but disapprove of his economic management. Similarly, 15% believe Trump fails to respect the rule of law but still think he can bring necessary change to the country.
Methodology and Survey Details
The CNN poll, conducted by SSRS, surveyed a random national sample of 1,206 U.S. adults from March 6-9. The participants were selected from a probability-based panel, with interviews conducted online or by telephone with a live interviewer. The margin of error for the overall results is ±3.3 percentage points.