Poll: Most Voters Say Trump Has Hurt Economy.
55% of registered voters say Trump's policies have hurt the economy, according to a new NBC News poll released Sept. 20. His approval rating stands at 41%, a second-term low.
- 48% said Trump hurt the economy in March; that figure is now 55%.
- 26% say his policies helped; 18% say they made little difference.
- Democrats lead 50%-45% on congressional preference, down from a 12-point lead in 2018.
- 62% of voters say the Iran war has not been worth it.
Why it matters: The cost of living ranks as voters' top concern, and NBC pollsters link rising gas and grocery prices partly to the ongoing Iran war.
- 52% of voters say they are less likely to support a Trump-endorsed candidate.
- A separate Politico poll found 43% hold Trump mainly or fully responsible for the economy's condition, including 21% of Trump voters; only 28% assigned that responsibility to Biden.
How 9 sources split on this story
Where they split: The core dispute is whether voters' economic pain reflects Trump's policies or conditions he inherited from the Biden administration.
Center coverage, 1 sources: The center presents the poll numbers straight — Trump's approval drop, Democrats' narrow congressional lead, and both parties' negative ratings — without a dominant narrative on cause or consequence.
Left coverage, 5 sources: The left frames the poll as evidence that voters are rejecting Trump's blame-shifting onto Biden, and that his low approval signals historic midterm peril for Republicans.
HuffPost3dAmericans Aren't Buying Trump's Favorite Excuse For Economic Troubles, New Poll Shows
NBC News9hPoll: Most voters say Trump has hurt the economy as competitive midterm election looms
AlterNet35mRepublicans panicking as Trump's crumbling base threatens midterms
Raw Story1hAnalyst astounded as red state voters rebel against Trump: 'It is everywhere'
The Atlantic5hTrump’s Monumental Obsession
What’s next: Democrats are targeting Senate seats in Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas.
- Republicans argue geography — many competitive races are in states Trump carried by double digits — offsets the issue environment.
- Will Democratic advantages on economic and war sentiment translate into enough seat gains given the unfavorable Senate map?
- How much will Trump's proposed $5,000 per-adult payment, which 46% of voters say makes them less likely to back supporting candidates, affect turnout?