According to a new Pew Research Center poll, a growing share of Republicans say President Donald Trump’s policies have made the U.S. economy worse, as affordability and rising prices dominate voter concerns ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. While Trump returned to the White House after campaigning on lowering prices following the post-pandemic inflation surge, recent surveys show most Americans remain dissatisfied with his handling of the economy nearly a year and a half into his second term.
Republican confidence in Donald Trump’s policies weakens
The Pew poll found that 28% of Republican voters believe Trump’s economic policies have made conditions worse, up from 18% in both September 2025 and January 2026. Across all respondents, 60% blamed Trump’s policies for worsening the economy. Only 24% of voters, including 41% of Republicans and 10% of Democrats, rated the economy as “excellent” or “good.”
According to Pew, the last time a majority of Americans viewed the economy positively was in January 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic triggered widespread lockdowns and a global economic downturn. The survey also found that 19% of Republicans expect the economy to be worse one year from now, up from 14% in January and matching the level recorded in September 2025.
Rising prices remain a key concern
The findings come as gas prices spike again amid renewed fighting in the Middle East. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping route, have pushed fuel prices higher since the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran in February. According to AAA, the national average price for gasoline reached $4.091 per gallon on Thursday, July 23.
Despite the increase in Republican dissatisfaction, most GOP voters continue to support Trump. Democrats, meanwhile, have centered their midterm messaging on rising living costs, arguing that economic hardship remains voters’ biggest concern.
Inflation and rising prices remain top concerns for Americans
A separate The Economist/YouGov poll found that inflation and rising prices remain top concerns for Americans, cited by 32% of respondents. Another 14% identified jobs and the economy as their biggest concern, while 10% pointed to health care. Only 21% rated the economy as excellent or good, compared with 75% who described it as fair or poor.
Highlighting Democrats’ focus on the issue, former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, now running for the U.S. Senate, wrote on X Wednesday, “As I’ve spoken with North Carolinians across the state, folks have been open about their struggles. Rising grocery prices, surprise billing from a doctor’s visit, expensive child care. These struggles and the people affected by them are why I’m running for the U.S. Senate.”
White House defends Donald Trump’s economic record
The White House has continued to defend Trump’s economic record. “This was the biggest tax refund season in American history, with the average refund exceeding $3,400, an 11% increase over the past year. American families and workers claimed $82 billion in direct tax relief, and 97% of filers received a tax cut,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a Thursday briefing.
At the same time, a Fox News poll found Democrats holding a 54% to 45% lead over Republicans on which party voters trust more to handle the economy. It’s the Democratic Party’s largest lead over the GOP on the issue since July 2006, underscoring how economic concerns could shape the political landscape heading into November.