Trump’s Economic Approval Ratings Drop
President Donald Trump’s approval rating regarding the economy has reached a new low, according to a recent report. A poll from NPR/PBS News/Marist is set to be conducted on Wednesday.
The latest public opinion survey revealed that only 36% of Americans approve of Trump’s economic policies. This marks the lowest approval rating for Trump in the six years Marist has tracked this question. Interestingly, the poll also indicated that 37% of voters trust Democrats over Republicans when it comes to handling the economy, with only 33% leaning towards the GOP.
Looking at demographic details, the study found that 49% of rural Americans disapprove of Trump’s economic policies, while approval sits at only 43%. Among white women without a college degree, 48% expressed disapproval, in contrast to 41% who approve.
Requests for comments to the White House were not answered.
NPR noted that in this same polling period, Americans last exhibited a comparable negative outlook on the economy under Trump’s leadership in February 2022, while Biden was still President. At that time, the Democratic Party, led by Biden, fared better than expected in the midterm elections.
In suburban areas, the economic disapproval rating for Trump sits at 60%, with only 33% approval. Overall, his current approval rating is just 38%, marking the lowest since early 2018.
When voters were asked about their primary economic concerns, 45% cited prices, while 18% mentioned housing. Others raised concerns over tariffs (15%) and job security (10%).
Additionally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a decrease of 6,000 federal jobs in November after a significant cut of 162,000 in October. The unemployment rate was recorded at 4.6%, which remains largely unchanged since September.
Job Creators Network CEO Alfredo Ortiz commented that the sluggish labor market highlights ongoing challenges for small businesses, impacted by broader economic trends from the previous administration. However, he also expressed optimism about forthcoming pro-growth policies and their potential positive effects on job creation in the near future.
Ortiz further stated that Republicans need to enhance support for small businesses, advocating for measures like expanding health plans to alleviate burdens on local businesses.
White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt stated that wages are increasing, prices are decreasing, and significant investments are flowing into the economy, suggesting a promising outlook for 2026.
The Consumer Price Index has noted a seasonal increase of 0.3%, following a 0.4% rise in August. The Federal Reserve recently cut interest rates for the third time this year, as prompted by Trump’s calls for lowering rates.
During an interview, Trump claimed his economic rating was “A++++++,” despite concerns expressed by some Americans regarding affordability challenges. The Democratic Party is reportedly trying to highlight the ongoing affordability crisis as the 2026 midterm elections approach.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries emphasized that the affordability crisis is real and widely recognized among Americans.
Despite the criticisms, a Harvard CAPS/Harris poll released on December 8 found that many Americans have more faith in the Republican Party and Trump concerning economic management compared to Democrats.
Moreover, the National Retail Federation announced that approximately 158.9 million Americans are expected to shop on the Saturday before Christmas, surpassing last year’s numbers and approaching record figures.
The NPR/PBS News/Marist poll was conducted from December 8-11, surveying 1,440 adults via various methods. The margin of error is approximately 3.2 percentage points, while it is 3.4 percentage points for registered voters out of the 1,261 included in the study.
