Donald Trump gets hit with devastating polls.
Voters Turn on Trump’s Economy as Cost-of-Living Anger Hits New High
May 12 2026, Published 12:09 p.m. ET
President Donald Trump’s approval on the economy slumps even lower than before, as most Americans believe his policies have made the cost of living too high to get by, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS.
The survey found that 77% of Americans, including many Republicans, think Trump’s policies have raised the cost of living where they live.
About two-thirds said his policies have made economic conditions worse across the country. Trump’s approval rating on the economy has dropped to 30%, CNN reported.
A Fox News poll is damning for President Donald Trump.
These findings show just how much opinion on the economy has turned against Trump as the 2026 midterm election cycle draws closer, with just about 6 months to go.
Trump has dismissed any polling that is unfavorable and claimed his economic agenda is successful. However, the polls, even in MAGA-friendly surveys, indicate many Americans link his policies to higher prices, strained household budgets, and less confidence about the future.
The CNN/SSRS survey was conducted from April 30 to May 4 among 1,499 U.S. adults. It used a probability-based panel and was conducted online or by telephone with a live interviewer. The poll had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.
Cost of living stood out in the findings as CNN reported that a growing number of respondents identified high prices and daily expenses as the top economic problem for their families.
Nearly seven in 10 Americans expect a recession within the next year, and many are concerned about their ability to cut spending or make significant purchases.
The economic pressure has affected people at all income levels with two-thirds of workers saying their wages have not kept pace with rising prices. Even among those earning more than $150,000 a year, 57% said their pay has not kept up with inflation, according to the findings.
The poll also revealed significant dissatisfaction with the economic system itself.
About three-quarters of Americans believe the system unfairly favors powerful interests, while fewer think most people can get ahead through hard work. About half expressed dissatisfaction with their financial situation.
Other recent polling supports these results paint the same picture. An NPR/PBS News/Marist poll released on May 6 found that 63% of Americans feel the U.S. economy is not working well for them personally, while 37% believe it benefits them.
The same survey found that more than eight in 10 Americans said current gas prices have put at least some pressure on their household budgets.
Trump’s poor performance on the economy could be a burden for Republicans as they try to maintain their congressional seats in November.
Trump appears to ignore his concerning poll numbers.
Polling compiled by Opinion Today shows Democrats gaining ground on economic issues as voters focus on prices, gas costs, tariffs, and household income.
The cost-of-living issue has also been connected with frustration over gas prices.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted from May 8 to 11 found that 64% of Americans said recent increases in gas prices have impacted their household finances, while 83% expect prices to keep rising over the next month.
Trump’s supporters argue that his policies will improve the economy, particularly through tariffs, energy production, and pressure on foreign competitors.
However, the new polling suggests that many voters assess the economy based on their experiences at the grocery store, the gas pump, and in their monthly bills, and patience is wearing thin.
For Trump, the threat is more than just low approval ratings because voters are increasingly linking their financial struggles to his decisions and will likely take their frustrations to the voting ballot.