Poll: Americans are anxious, pessimistic and deeply unhappy with Trump as midterm elections approach
A few weeks before Election Day, 71% of American adults think the country is on the “wrong track.” It’s the highest share ever recorded during President Donald Trump’s second term, illustrating the gloomy national mood his party faces in the midterm elections, according to a new NBC News Decision Desk poll by SurveyMonkey.
Respondents expressed deep dissatisfaction with the economic situation and widespread distrust of both major political parties, but Trump and the Republicans bore the brunt. For the first time in Trump’s second term, the poll found the “right track” by dipping into the 20s. A majority of Americans view the presidential administration as particularly corrupt, although they are skeptical of corruption within both parties. And they claim that Trump is failing to improve their material financial conditions.
Trump’s approval rating fell to 34% among U.S. adults, the lowest level for a second term in this poll, while his disapproval rating climbed to 66%. Another warning sign, the poll found a majority (51%) of respondents “strongly disapprove” of his performance, a high for a second term.
Trump’s approval rating is slightly better among registered voters, between 39 and 61 percent. Registered voters said they preferred Democrats over Republicans to control Congress 55 to 45 percent, another sign that Republican majorities in the House and Senate are in danger in the Nov. 3 election.
Yet despite the ruling party’s declining ratings, Americans also continue to have a negative view of Democrats. Among adults, only 43% have a favorable view of the Democratic Party, while 57% have an unfavorable view.
The survey found that 37% have a favorable opinion of the Republican Party, while 63% have an unfavorable opinion.
The president’s approval rating is 76% among Republican adults. That represents a drop from his previous numbers among members of his own party, fueled by a decline among Republicans who see themselves more as supporters of the party than of the MAGA movement. Meanwhile, Trump’s approval rating stands at 21% among independents.
Among men under 30 — a group Trump won by 1 point in 2024 exit polls — his approval rating stands at 28 percent. And among Latinos, who also turned to Trump in 2024, his approval rating is 31%.
The poll highlights the delicate balancing act facing Republican candidates in competitive states and districts, as they simultaneously try to energize Republican voters who continue to support Trump without alienating Americans who disapprove of the administration.
Among adults, 58% said Trump’s policies are hurting the country, while 28% said they are helping the country. Another 14% said they made no difference.
Broken down by issue, Trump’s approval rating is 27% for his handling of the cost of living, 29% for his handling of the war with Iran and 33% for his handling of AI. On his main issue, border security and immigration, 43% of adults approve.
Economic concerns are at the center of the bitter national mood, with the economy once again topping the list of most important issues at 31 percent. While 18% of Americans say their financial situation is better today than a year ago, 38% say it is about the same and 44% say it is worse now.
The findings provided details of how rising inflation, which last month reached 3.7% year-on-year, has weighed on Americans’ daily lives.
Gas prices were described as a “very serious” or “somewhat serious” problem by 67% of respondents. The majority said economic conditions have caused them to change the groceries they purchase to live within their means and to reduce spending to be able to purchase essentials.
Plurality too According to the survey, they reported reducing their electricity use, changing or canceling travel plans or delaying a major purchase.
Trump sought to lure voters by promising $5,000 payments if Republicans won the 2026 midterm elections. But the new poll showed that most American adults don’t believe that: Just 14% said they “definitely” or “probably” expected to receive such a check if the Republican Party retained control of Congress, while 71% think they “definitely” or “probably” would not.
Self-identified Republicans are among those who don’t appear to be buying the president’s commitment, with 47% saying they don’t expect to receive Trump’s promised $5,000 payment, compared to 28% saying they do.
Corruption is also seen as a major concern, with Americans skeptical of both parties.
More than half (52%) of American adults said in the poll that they found his administration “more corrupt” than previous administrations, while about one in four said it was less corrupt and another one in four said the current administration was about as corrupt as its predecessors.
A majority of 56% also said corruption was equally bad in both parties, while 25% said it was a bigger problem in the Republican Party and 17% said it was worse among Democrats.
The discontent could reshape what Americans expect from a politician. In another edition of this poll a year ago, Americans said by a margin of 16 points that they preferred an insider with the experience to get things done rather than an outsider who shakes up the system. This margin narrowed to 4 points in the new poll.
Among Democrats, the survey also found indicators of a loss of trust in the party establishment and an openness to different types of candidates.
When asked to choose one or the other, 52% of self-identified Democrats said they were more supportive of progressive causes and the progressive movement, while 48% said they were more supportive of the Democratic Party.
Among Democratic-aligned adults, 42% said they consider themselves democratic socialists, while 58% said they do not.
And despite Trump’s unpopularity, the country was almost evenly divided on whether a potential Democratic-led House should begin impeachment proceedings: 52% said it should, while 48% said it should not go that route.
The NBC News Decision Desk poll conducted by SurveyMonkey surveyed 19,135 adults online from September 28 to October 12 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.
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