President Trump is seeing his economic approval ratings reach a new low as a significant majority of Americans express frustration with the current state of the nation. According to a recent poll from the AP/NORC Research Center, which was published Thursday, 73 percent of U.S. adults now disapprove of the way the president is handling the economy.
The data reveals that 65 percent of adults directly blame the president’s policies for the high prices they are seeing at the register, viewing these policies as a bigger factor than other economic drivers. The public sentiment has clearly shifted quite a bit, as the poll noted that approval of his economic agenda has dropped 14 percentage points since March 2025. When you look at the numbers, only 26 percent of respondents approve of his overall handling of the economy, and just 17 percent approve of his response to the rising cost of living.
The disappointment goes beyond just economic metrics. Roughly 69 percent of respondents, a group that includes half of all Republicans, said his agenda has been “worse than expected.” While 23 percent noted that his performance has been about as expected, only 7 percent felt it has been better than expected.
The broader outlook for the country is also looking pretty grim, according to the survey participants
This dissatisfaction extends to other major policy areas as well. Based on the survey, 58 percent said his handling of trade negotiations has been “worse than expected,” while 55 percent felt the same about his foreign policy and 48 percent about his approach to immigration.
Trump economic approval hits new low: Surveyhttps://t.co/G9RqK0yq72
— The Hill (@thehill) October 1, 2026
About 61 percent of respondents said the national economy is worse off under the current administration, while only 23 percent said it is better off. When asked about the country as a whole, 61 percent again said it is worse off, compared to 26 percent who believe it is better off. These figures reflect a growing divide between the White House and the general public.
A big part of the struggle involves the ongoing conflict in Iran. As of Monday, this war has been going on for seven months, and it has undeniably contributed to the current economic climate. The conflict has caused gas prices to soar and has kept inflation elevated, which likely complicates the economic outlook for both this year and the next.
When it comes to campaign promises, very few people feel that the president has delivered on his word. Around 17 percent of respondents believe he has not delivered, a view shared by 87 percent of Democrats. Even among his own party, there is a sense of stagnation. About 48 percent of Republican respondents said the president has tried to keep his promises but has often been unable to.
The president’s approval ratings have seen a steady decline throughout the summer, often dipping into the low 30s. A poll published last Friday by the Wall Street Journal showed his approval rating at 37 percent. This is the lowest rating for any president ahead of midterm elections since the publication began its polling in 1990.
The AP/NORC survey was conducted September 24, to September 28, and included 2,140 respondents with a margin of error of 2.9 percentage points.
