Americans’ Confidence in Stock Market During Trump Administration

CNN’s Chief Data Correspondent, Harry Enten, pointed out that Americans seem to have more faith in the stock market during President Donald Trump’s tenure compared to earlier presidents.

A recent survey indicates that 50% of Americans believe the stock market will rise in the next six months under Trump, a higher percentage than the views held at the same point in the second terms of former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, who had 42% and 41%, respectively. It’s curious, though—while many hold a generally unfavorable view of Trump’s economic management, this outlook on the stock market is positive for his administration.

Enten remarked, “Look, currently, Donald Trump is in his second term. Compare that to Barack Obama and George W. Bush. Fifty percent of Americans think stock prices will go up in the next half-year. This is actually the highest percentage for a second-term president so far in the 21st century.”

He added, “So what we’re observing here is that Americans don’t just think the stock market is performing well right now; they expect this trend to continue. That 50 percent is quite unusual for a sitting president in their second term.”

Interestingly, though, a significant number of Americans, averaging around 55%, disapprove of President Trump’s overall economic performance. A CBS News poll from early February found that many believe inflation is rising and predict economic slowing toward the year’s end.

Since April 2025, when Trump’s reciprocal tariffs impacted the market negatively, there has been a noticeable shift in public sentiment. The percentage of Americans who see the market positively has jumped from 27% to 40%, while negative views have dwindled from 56% to 22% within the same timeframe.

According to a CBS News/YouGov poll from late January, 30% of Democratic and independent voters believe the stock market is in “fairly good shape.” Notably, only 10% of Democrats and 9% of independents rated the situation as “very bad.” Enten pointed out, “It’s worth noting that even among Democrats, opinions are split. Among independents, a significant number also feel the stock market is faring well.”

A prediction market suggests there’s a 65% chance that the S&P 500 will rise in 2026, which, while not definitive, could be a promising sign for the Trump administration.

As the 2024 election approaches, voters have indicated that the economy and immigration are key issues—factors that contributed to Trump’s win over former Vice President Kamala Harris. Although many Americans are dissatisfied with how Trump has addressed inflation, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) saw a modest rise of 2.4% in January, which was lower than anticipated.

Currently, major U.S. stock indexes are hitting record highs. The S&P 500 has climbed approximately 20.9% from November 5, 2024, to early February 2026, largely tied to investor sentiments following Trump’s election. Furthermore, the S&P 500 saw about a 16% increase in 2025, marking the second-highest annual stock market return since March 1897 during President William McKinley’s administration.