Poll: Americans are anxious, pessimistic and deeply unhappy with Trump ahead of the midterms
Context:
A NBC News poll ahead of the midterms shows a grim national mood, with broad dissatisfaction over the economy and trust in both parties, and heightened scrutiny of Trump and the Republican stance. Trump’s standing has slipped to a new second-term low among adults, while registered voters still tilt toward Democrats to control Congress. Voters assign blame for economic strain to current policy, and concerns about corruption are pervasive across parties. The findings suggest GOP candidates face a balancing act between energizing Trump supporters and appealing skeptical independents, with the potential for a divided path in November. The outlook signals limited enthusiasm for the administration’s pledges and ongoing anxiety about inflation, prices, and living costs.
Dive Deeper:
The NBC News Decision Desk Poll surveyed 19,135 adults online from Sept. 28 to Oct. 12, with a margin of error of ±2.6 percentage points, and is powered by SurveyMonkey.
Overall, a large share believes the country is on the wrong track, reflecting a grim mood that borders on pessimism about economic conditions and political leadership.
Among adults, Trump’s approval stands at 34% with 66% disapproving, while among registered voters his appeal is 39% to 61%, and independents lean against him at 21%.
Voters favor Democrats over Republicans to control Congress by a 55%-45% margin among registered voters, signaling risk for GOP majorities in the forthcoming elections.
Economic concerns dominate priorities, with inflation and gas prices driving everyday financial stress; many report altering spending, groceries, and travel plans to cope with costs.
Trump’s policy ratings show tepid support across issues, with the best approval on border security at 43%, and notably low sentiment on cost of living and foreign policy matters like the Iran conflict.
Corruption emerges as a salient concern, with the public viewing the current administration as more corrupt than previous ones and a majority seeing corruption as a problem across both parties.