Americans aren’t happy with how President Trump is managing the economy, according to a new poll from PBS News, NPR and Marist.
Fifty-seven percent of respondents said they disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy, while just 36% said they approve. That’s the lowest positive rating Trump has seen in either of his two administrations.
Trump’s numbers on the economy are similar to his overall ratings. Just 38% of respondents think Trump is doing a good job as president, while 54% do not.
“This is a major problem for him,” said Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, per PBS News. “When affordability is so front and center in people’s minds, that’s going to be laid at the doorstep of a chief executive.”
A majority of Americans report that the cost of living is too high, with 70% saying their local costs are unaffordable.
In what will certainly be seen as an alarming sign for Republicans, more people now give Democrats the edge on handling the economy. Forty percent of respondents said they think Democrats would do a better job on the economy, compared to 35% picking Republicans.
In the run-up to the midterm elections under President Joe Biden, Republicans held the advantage on the economy, leading Democrats by 15 points.
The poll of 1,440 U.S. adults was conducted via phone, text and online from December 8 through December 11, 2025, with a margin of error of 3.4 percentage points.