Polls Indicate American Discontent with Trump’s Economic Management
A recent NPR/PBS News/Marist poll reveals that many Americans are dissatisfied with President Donald Trump’s approach to the economy. Conducted from January 27 to 30, the survey of 1,462 voters shows that only 36 percent approve of the president’s economic policies, while a notable 59 percent express disapproval. This marks an increase in disapproval from December, when it stood at 57 percent.
As the midterm elections draw nearer—around nine months away—concerns about the economy appear to be growing. More than half of those polled indicated that they want the White House to prioritize lowering prices, with nearly 60 percent of independent voters echoing this sentiment.
Interestingly, under Trump, the inflation rate has seen some decline, dropping from 3% in January 2025 to 2.7% by December. However, prices still increased by 3.1% year-on-year in December, and projections suggest they could rise by another 2.5% in January 2025.
When it comes to tariffs, public opinion leans negative, with a majority of respondents seeing them as harmful to the economy. According to the poll, 56% of Americans think that the tariffs on imported goods have detrimental effects. In contrast, only 31% believe these tariffs could be beneficial, and 12% see no significant impact either way. Notably, 87% of Democrats and 63% of independents perceive tariffs as harmful, while about two-thirds of Republicans think they’re advantageous for the national economy.
The unemployment rate in the U.S. has been under 5% since September 2021, though it did rise from 4% in January 2025 to 4.4% in December of that same year.
In a recent NBC News interview, President Trump expressed pride in the U.S. economy, saying, “I’m very proud of that. I inherited the worst inflation in the history of our country. It was through the roof.”
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, GDP growth reached 4.4% in the third quarter of last year, and Trump anticipates that 2026 will bring even better outcomes during his second term. He highlighted, “There are factories and thousands of businesses being built all over the country. I just talked to President Xi of China. No one has seen anything like what is happening in America right now.”
