Trump Won on the Economy. Now Voters Have Buyer's Remorse.
Trump's brand as a strong businessman carried him back to the White House. But the honeymoon is definitely over.
The latest Economist/YouGov poll released Tuesday contains a truly shocking figure: 61% of Americans say the country is headed in the wrong direction.
That includes 68% of independents and even 24% of Republicans — a sign that frustration with the Trump administration is no longer confined to the left.
Congress in Crisis
Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle are deep underwater as the shutdown drags on.
YouGov found that 58% of Americans have very little trust in Congress, and even among Republicans, 47% express skepticism.
A separate Gallup survey puts overall congressional approval in the teens, marking a sharp drop among Republicans since the start of the shutdown. The chaos in Washington is wearing thin with everyone — including the GOP’s own base.
Trump’s Favorability Hits Rock Bottom
That same YouGov poll found Trump’s favorability at its lowest point ever, with 57% of Americans holding an unfavorable view of the president.
The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll reinforces the slide: 57% disapproval, up roughly five points since the last survey. The country isn’t just tired — it’s tuning him out.
The Economic Foundation Crumbles
What’s most striking about recent polling is the collapse of Trump’s economic credibility.
Remember: This was the issue that carried him back into the White House. In CNN’s 2024 exit polls, two-thirds of voters said the economy was “not so good” or “poor,” and that pessimism correlated directly with support for Trump. His entire brand — the myth of the strong businessman — was built on it.
Now, that foundation is cracking.
Multiple recent polls show a total reversal in public perception:
57% disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy in both Economist/YouGov and Quinnipiac surveys
That marks a nearly 40-point collapse in his economic approval since leaving office in 2021
The “Trump economy” image has officially lost its shine.
Cost of Living Concerns Spike
The same Reuters/Ipsos poll found a sharp spike in disapproval of Trump’s handling of the cost of living.
While shutdown numbers remain steady, there’s a clear opening for Democrats: 73% of respondents — including a majority of Republicans — said they want ACA subsidies extended.
That’s not just a policy win. It’s a moral and political one — and it underscores how far Trump has fallen on the issue that once defined him.
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Will Americans still vote Republican in spite of this disaster? Any real change in red ststes?
He won on conflating inflation and economic concerns with crime and immigration, with a bit of transgender hysteria. The standard GOP playbook of "Here's some bullshit. Don't you want to touch the hot stove again?"