Shock Poll Shows Just 17% Approve Trump’s Handling of Living Costs as Economic Woes Deepen

• by Akanksha Mishra
• 2026-10-05 19:49:00

In a stinging rebuke of the administration's economic blueprint, a comprehensive nationwide survey conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research (AP-NORC) has exposed severe public dissatisfaction with United States President Donald Trump. The findings, released on Monday, October 5, 2026, reveal that only 30 percent of American adults approve of Trump’s overall presidential performance, while his approval ratings on core kitchen-table concerns have plummeted to historic lows—standing at just 26 percent for managing the economy and a dismal 17 percent for handling the cost of living. Widespread public pushback has also erupted against the White House's aggressive trade policies, with a commanding majority of Americans stating that the administration has gone too far by slapping steep new tariffs on key international trading partners like India.

Cost-of-Living Crisis and Blame Game: 65% Hold White House Policies Responsible for Inflation

The poll numbers illustrate deep pessimism among citizens grappling with escalating supermarket bills and utility expenses:

Direct Blame on Policy Decisions: A decisive 65 percent of American adults affirmed that persistent price hikes are the direct result of Trump’s policies, representing a sharp escalation compared to October 2022 when 44 percent attributed high inflation to then-President Joe Biden.

Widening Partisan Cleavage: The data underscores a rigid partisan divide, with 67 percent of registered Republicans maintaining that inflation remains driven by global factors beyond the president’s control, echoing the 87 percent of Democrats who defended the White House against price surges in 2022.

Underperforming Expectations: Nearly 69 percent of respondents—including a notable 52 percent of Republicans—stated that Trump’s handling of the cost of living has been significantly worse than they anticipated during the campaign.

Household Financial Decline: More than half of all surveyed citizens reported that general national and local economic conditions have deteriorated since Trump's re-election, with 46 percent confirming that their family's personal financial well-being has taken a direct turn for the worse during his second term.

64% Say Tariffs on India Went Too Far: Growing Dismay Over Trade Wars and Foreign Allies

The administration's combative trade maneuvers have sparked widespread voter skepticism across consumer demographics:

Disapproval of Aggressive Tariffs: A striking 64 percent of Americans stated that Trump has gone too far in imposing punitive import tariffs on foreign nations, specifically citing economic friction with strategic partners such as India.

Widespread Trade Dissatisfaction: Overall, 68 percent of respondents expressed deep dissatisfaction with the administration's bilateral trade negotiations, while 58 percent characterized the White House's trade stewardship during this term as worse than expected.

Deteriorating Perceptions of Canada: The survey charted an unprecedented erosion in traditional North American alliances, with only 26 percent of Americans now viewing Canada as a close ally, a steep drop from 45 percent in March 2025 and 62 percent three years ago. Another 35 percent described bilateral ties as friendly but not close, while 30 percent termed the relationship neither friendly nor adversarial.

War Weariness and Broken Pledges: 71% Oppose Iran Escalation as Direction of Country Sours

Public discontent extends well beyond domestic wallets into foreign military interventions and executive credibility:

Strong Pushback on Iran War: A substantial 71 percent of Americans voiced disagreement with Trump’s approach toward Tehran, with 69 percent stating explicitly that waging armed conflict against Iran is wrong.

Nation on the Wrong Track: Reflecting widespread national anxiety, 73 percent of American adults declared that the country is headed in the wrong direction, a sentiment shared by 92 percent of Democrats and 47 percent of Republicans.

Credibility Deficit: Only 17 percent of citizens believe Trump faithfully fulfills his campaign promises, compared to 87 percent of Democrats who state he routinely breaks them, and 48 percent of Republicans who concede that while he tries to honor commitments, he ultimately fails to deliver.

Immigration Remains Singular Bright Spot: The single policy vertical where the president registered relatively higher support was border security and immigration, securing a 39 percent approval rating, though 48 percent still noted his performance fell short of expectations.

Methodology of the Survey: Conducted between September 24 and September 28, 2026, the AP-NORC poll surveyed a nationally representative sample of 2,140 U.S. adults via online and telephone interviews utilizing the AmeriSpeak Panel, carrying a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.

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