Majority of American Voters Say They’re Worse Off Under Trump, New Poll Finds
- Edited by: Sagar Kar
- Updated Aug 17, 2026, 01:32 IST
A new poll found that more than 53 percent of registered voters say their finances have worsened since Trump returned to office, with voters now trusting Democrats more on inflation, jobs and the economy.
US President Donald Trump.
A new national poll from the Financial Times shows rising frustration among American voters about President Trump’s handling of the economy, with a majority saying their personal finances have suffered since he returned to office. The survey, conducted by Focaldata, found that more than 53 percent of registered voters believe their financial situation has worsened since Trump moved back into the White House in January 2025. That sentiment wasn’t limited to Democrats either. Nearly 57 percent of independents said the same thing, and even close to a quarter of self-identified Republicans admitted they felt worse off under the current administration.
The poll also revealed a shift in which party voters trust more on core economic questions. Respondents said they had more confidence in Democrats than Republicans when it comes to tackling inflation and the rising cost of living. Democrats also came out ahead on jobs and the broader economy, two areas that Republicans have traditionally been seen as stronger on.
A Tough Road Ahead for Republicans
With midterm elections less than three months away, these numbers point to a difficult stretch for Trump and his party. Public opinion has soured partly because of the ongoing war in Iran, which has pushed up prices for gasoline, everyday goods and the cost of borrowing money.
Recent data does show some easing on the inflation front. Prices rose more slowly in July, helped along by a recent drop in fuel costs. Still, at 3.4 percent, inflation remains higher today than it was when Joe Biden left office and handed control to Trump last year. There’s more bad news on the economic front too. Separate data released Friday showed consumer sentiment dropping sharply, landing near record lows as high prices force many Americans to cut back on spending. Government figures also showed real wages fell last month.
What This Could Mean for November
Trump himself won’t appear on any ballot in November, but midterm elections have historically served as a kind of report card on a sitting president’s performance. And right now, that report card doesn’t look great. Nearly two thirds of registered voters said they believe the economy is headed in the wrong direction. That figure includes more than two thirds of independents and over a third of Republicans. Only about one in four voters said they think the economy is moving in a positive direction.
Trump’s Approval Numbers Slip
The poll found that 55 percent of registered voters disapprove of how Trump is handling the presidency overall, a group that includes nearly 20 percent of Republicans. Perhaps more concerning for the White House is the shift within Trump’s own base. His net approval rating among Republicans, calculated as the gap between those who approve of him and those who don’t, dropped 8 percentage points compared to the month before.
His numbers looked even weaker on the specific issue of inflation and cost of living. Among all registered voters, 64 percent disapproved of his handling of that issue, including nearly seven in ten independents and roughly a third of Republicans.
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Sagar is a journalist with an interest primarily in geopolitics and American domestic politics. Before joining Times Now, he wrote for Republic and Sw… View More
Original source: https://www.timesnownews.com/latest-news
