Trump's Economy Approval Hits Record Low at 31 Percent, Poll Finds

A new CNN poll conducted by SSRS found that only 31 percent of Americans approved of President Donald Trump's handling of the economy, the lowest figure recorded in this survey series and a number that reflects deepening public frustration with household costs ranging from grocery bills to gas prices.

The result marked a new career low for Trump on the economy, with roughly two-thirds of Americans saying his policies have worsened economic conditions, a figure that rose 10 points since January. Approval of his handling of inflation fell to just 27 percent, down sharply from 44 percent one year ago.

Gas prices averaging more than $4 per gallon nationwide, a surge tied to the aftermath of the U.S. attack on Iran, have added to Americans' financial frustrations. More than six in ten Americans said they are trimming budgets on groceries and discretionary spending, a figure that has held above 60 percent in CNN polling since 2022. Overall, 63 percent of respondents said higher costs at the pump have caused at least some financial hardship in their household, including 15 percent who described the impact as severe.

Trump's overall approval rating held relatively steady at 35 percent, just one point off his all-time low in CNN polling. His standing within his own party showed notable erosion, with the share of Republicans who strongly approve of his job performance dropping to 43 percent from 52 percent in January. His economic approval rating fell 8 points overall since January and a steeper 14 points among Republicans.

The partisan dimension of that slide is significant. Economic approval typically drops among opposition voters during periods of price pressure, but a double-digit collapse among the president's own base in under three months points to pocketbook strain cutting across ideological lines. With gas above $4 and grocery belt-tightening now a years-long constant, the data suggest voter frustration is not primarily an ideological reaction but a lived economic one.

A growing minority of 45 percent, up 5 points over the past year, said they have cut back significantly on how much they drive. That behavioral shift, visible at the pump and in consumer spending data, tends to feed back into broader economic sentiment and can become self-reinforcing if households reduce activity across other categories.

Historically, presidential economic approval ratings at this level have foreshadowed significant midterm losses for the governing party, forcing administrations to recalibrate both policy and messaging. Campaign strategists in both parties will now watch whether corroborating surveys from other pollsters confirm the trend and whether key subgroups including independents and suburban voters show comparable movement. The next jobs report and inflation reading will offer a clearer signal of whether this poll captures a turning point or a temporary reaction to the Iran-related energy spike.