Poll: Trump Approval Slips as 55% Say Policies Hurt Economy

President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen, and voters increasingly say his policies have hurt the economy, according to an NBC News poll that points to a tougher environment for Republicans ahead of November’s midterm elections.

The survey found Trump’s approval at 41% among registered voters, a second-term low in the polling. A majority of 55% said they believe Trump’s policies have hurt the economy, up from 48% in March, when voters were already focused on prices that were rising and later spiked further after the Iran war helped drive up gas and other costs.

Trump’s Approval Falls as Economic Concerns Grow

Beyond the president’s standing, the poll suggests voters are tying their economic worries directly to the White House. With 55% saying Trump has harmed the economy, the ratings reinforce a view among many voters that the cost of living remains a central issue as the election approaches.

Courtesy of NBC News

NBC News polling also indicates the Iran war has not shifted sentiment in Trump’s favour. More than 6 in 10 voters said the conflict had not been worth it.

The poll further found that voters do not appear to be motivated by Trump’s tax and spending legislation that he championed last year, suggesting the current push is more about overall performance and its effect on everyday costs than specific policy initiatives.

Democrats Still Unpopular, But Lead Is Smaller

In the contest for control of Congress, Democrats hold a 5-point edge over Republicans, with voters giving Democrats 50% compared with 45% for the GOP.

That lead is smaller than the one Democrats had at the same point before the 2018 election, when they held a 12-point advantage and went on to win the House majority during Trump’s first midterm as president. Despite the narrower gap this time, the poll suggests the Democratic Party remains viewed less favourably than Trump and the Republican Party.

Party views could influence turnout and voting patterns, particularly in races where voters may weigh dissatisfaction with the president against existing negative perceptions of Democratic candidates.

Courtesy of NBC News

Political Geography Could Limit Republican Losses

While the poll portrays a gloomy atmosphere for Republicans, it also indicates the midterm race is not as lopsided as in Trump’s first midterm. Republicans are competing in areas that have historically leaned their way, and the path to Democratic control is narrower than the headline figures may suggest.

The fight for control of the House, and especially the Senate, is likely to turn on where candidates are running, according to Republican pollster Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies, whose firm conducted the survey alongside Democratic firm Hart Research Associates. McInturff said the campaign would be decided by both the numbers and the political geography in which the election would be won or lost, and noted that Democrats would need to flip multiple states that Trump carried by double digits in 2024 to win the Senate.

Opposition to Trump Becomes a Motivator

The poll also found that Trump himself is emerging as a strong motivating factor, particularly for Democrats. More voters— including nearly half of independents—said they see their vote as a signal of opposition to the president than in any other midterm period tracked by NBC News polling over the past three decades.