Trump’s Economic Approval Hits Lowest Point of Both Terms: New Poll Finds
New polling shows Americans are growing increasingly skeptical of President Donald Trump‘s handling of the economy, which has dragged down his overall approval rating to the lowest levels of both of his terms as president.
CNBC’s latest All-America Economic Survey showed that 40% of respondents approve of Trump’s overall job performance, while 58% disapprove. On the economy, 39% approve, and 53% disapprove, putting him underwater on what has long been one of his strongest political issues.
The survey, based on 1,000 interviews conducted April 15 through April 19, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. The topline represents a sharp decline from earlier readings and comes at a moment when inflation, energy costs, and anxiety over the broader direction of the economy have become central worries for voters.
The drop is especially relevant because it extends into Trump’s own party. CNBC reported that Republican net approval fell 17 points, the lowest level for him in that group since 2017. Approval among Republicans dropped to 82%, while his support among non-MAGA Republicans fell 19 points to 60%. By contrast, self-identified MAGA voters remained overwhelmingly loyal, giving him 96% approval.
Micah Roberts, the Republican pollster for the survey and a partner at Public Opinion Strategies, told the outlet that the decline was not catastrophic in light of the intense pressures surrounding the administration. “To have a 5-point drop is not the way you want to go, but… he’s keeping 60% of the Republican Party very, very fired up and very much on his side.” He also added that “This is a very fraught time, a lot of big stuff is happening, but the number shift didn’t seem correspondingly big on [Trump’s] core ratings,” he said.
The poll also found broader dissatisfaction with the war in Iran. Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the military action, and 48% of respondents said the war makes them feel less safe, compared with 30% who said it makes them feel more safe. Independents leaned much closer to Democrats on that question, with 58% saying they feel less safe. Majorities also said the war is not worth it when measured against its financial cost, higher gasoline prices, regime change goals, and casualties. According to CNBC, 64% said it is not worth it when considering the overall cost to the nation or the increase in gas prices.
Despite Trump’s slide, CNBC found that Democrats are not automatically benefiting. According to the poll, Americans prefer Democratic control of Congress by just 4 points, unchanged from the previous survey. The Democratic Party’s own image remains weak, with 52% viewing it negatively and only 26% positively. Republicans, while also underwater, fared somewhat better, with 35% positive and 52% negative views. CNBC said it was the fourth straight survey in which Republicans held a better public image than Democrats.
The results add to a broader pattern that has emerged in recent national polling, as an AP-NORC poll released this week found Trump’s approval on the economy at 30%, down from 38% in March, while his overall approval stood at 33%, compared with 38% a month earlier. That survey also showed deep frustration over the cost of living, with only about one-quarter of adults approving of Trump’s handling of prices.
Reuters has also reported growing alarm inside Republican circles over the state of the economy, especially as higher inflation and energy prices threaten the party’s position ahead of the 2026 midterms. The news agency said Republican lawmakers and White House aides had been urging Trump for months to refocus on the economy, which remains the top concern for many voters.
