Stay Up-To-Date with Political Events

News & Video

November 5, 2025 | Press Release

New Poll: Americans Sour on Trump’s Handling of the Economy and Cost of Living

Washington, D.C. – Americans are turning against Donald Trump’s economic agenda, fueled by dissatisfaction with rising prices and a sluggish economy, a new poll from Senate Majority PAC and Blue Rose Research has found.
Coupled with Tuesday’s decisive win for Democrats who focused their campaigns on cost-of-living concerns, the survey is a harbinger for Democrats’ growing strength on economic issue with voters.
Following months of stability, Trump’s job and economic approval have declined meaningfully in the past few weeks to the lowest levels of his second term, with just 41% of Americans holding a favorable view of his record on the cost-of-living crisis. Approval of Trump on the economy broadly is down to 44%.
The shift follows weeks of economic turmoil and fallout from the GOP-led government shutdown, which has disrupted food assistance and stopped the extension of tax relief for working families’ health care.
The economy and cost-of-living remain at the top of Americans’ concerns. More than 80% of voters say prices have gone up for groceries and goods over the last six months, and nearly half cite Trump’s policies as a “major” reason why. Americans specifically cited Trump’s refusal to extend SNAP benefits and his cuts to health care and social programs as key concerns they have with his record on the economy.
Even among his own base, frustration is growing. Trump voters were particularly angered by his decision to give $40 billion in taxpayer funds to bail out Argentina, as Americans are struggling with higher prices. Four in five voters, including 69% of Trump voters, say the administration should focus on fixing problems at home before sending money abroad.
“Voters are feeling the squeeze from Donald Trump and Senate Republicans’ policies every time they step out their door,” said Senate Majority PAC Spokesperson Lauren French. “And while working families are tightening their belts, Trump is shutting down the government instead of feeding hungry kids or lowering health care costs.”
Read the full memo. Survey data for polling questions includes 3,976 responses, collected nationally October 25-27. Results are modeled and scored on a representative sample of the national voter file, weighted to 2024 voters.
Trump’s Approval has Dropped to Its Lowest Point This Term.
  • Trump’s overall job approval stands at 46%.
Voters View the Shutdown’s Concrete Consequences on Health Care and Food Assistance as Trump’s Most Concerning Actions.
  • Americans reported being most concerned with his actions regarding health care and food assistance.
    • Sixty-seven percent of voters expressed concern about “Trump announc[ing] he will not use available funds to pay food assistance benefits in November to over 40 million Americans during the government shutdown.”
      • This includes 67% of swing voters and 67% of Trump voters.
    • Sixty-six percent of Americans are particularly concerned by the recent budget bill’s cuts to Medicaid and food assistance, looming health care premium increases, and Trump’s refusal to negotiate with Democrats to end the shutdown.
      • This includes 66% of swing voters and 61% of Trump voters.
  • Sixty percent of Trump voters were concerned by Trump bragging that his administration has ‘defeated inflation’, as Americans continue to struggle with higher prices.
Voters Broadly Believe Prices Have Increased in the Last 6 Months and Are Increasingly Seeing Trump’s Policies as a Major Reason Why.
  • Nearly all voters reported they are paying more for groceries (84%) and imported goods (82%).
  • Nearly half of voters view Trump’s policies as a major reason why the cost of groceries and imported goods have increased.
  • Compared to polling completed in May, more voters reported Trump’s policies as a major reason why prices have increased.
    • This change was particularly pronounced for health care and electricity, with 7pp and 13pp more voters connecting higher prices to his policies, respectively.

 

###

Get updates