A new Fox News survey indicates voters are increasingly pinning responsibility for the economy on President Donald Trump. The poll shows 59 percent of voters disapprove of his handling of the job overall.
Rising living costs, the recent government shutdown, and broader economic anxiety appear to be dragging down the president’s numbers, leaving him at his weakest approval level since returning to office.
Why It Matters
Political analyst Nate Silver says Trump’s approval has been sliding for weeks, describing it as a sustained drop. He notes that the president’s net approval is now the lowest of Trump’s second term so far.
Approval ratings are often treated as a snapshot of national mood—and a rough measure of how Americans are responding to the administration’s economic approach.
What to Know
The Fox News poll found that 76 percent of voters rate today’s economy negatively. Large majorities also report higher household expenses this year, including groceries (85 percent), utilities (78 percent), health care (67 percent), and housing (66 percent). Notably, dissatisfaction isn’t limited to Democrats; many Republicans also say costs have climbed sharply.
Speaking Monday to McDonald’s franchise owners, Trump argued the country is thriving and insisted prices are easing, calling this period “the golden age of America.” But with beef prices at record highs, many consumers say even fast-food staples are getting harder to afford.
At this stage of his term, Trump’s approval stands at 41 percent—below Joe Biden’s 44 percent at a comparable point in November 2021.
On economic responsibility, nearly two-thirds of those surveyed say Trump bears more blame for current conditions than Biden (62 percent to 32 percent). Even within his own party, the split is striking: 42 percent of Republicans say Trump is more responsible for the economy, while 53 percent place the burden on Biden.
Trump’s ratings have only dipped lower once before—during October 2017, following the first indictments related to Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.
The poll also suggests frustration isn’t aimed solely at the White House. Majorities say Congress (64 percent) and the Supreme Court (63 percent) are giving up too much of their constitutional power to the president, signaling broader concern about checks and balances.
Braun Research conducted the survey among 1,005 randomly selected registered voters nationwide.
What People Are Saying
Trump, speaking at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum at the Kennedy Center: “So my poll numbers just went down, but with smart people they’ve gone way up.”
Republican pollster Daron Shaw: “The situation isn’t complicated. People are struggling to afford necessities and blaming those in charge. What’s interesting is watching Democrats gain politically from a problem they arguably caused—and that crushed them in 2024. But that’s politics.”
What Happens Next
If Trump’s support continues to soften among Republicans and other core backers, it could become a real liability for the GOP heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
