A national survey conducted by ABC News, The Washington Post and Ipsos found that 70 per cent of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track, while another survey by NBC News Decision Desk placed the figure at 71 per cent. Both findings underline widespread unease over economic conditions, government policies and the direction of Trump’s presidency.
The findings come as separate national polls register some of the lowest approval ratings of Trump’s second term. A CNN survey conducted by SSRS between October 15 and 18 found that just 32 per cent approved of his performance, while 67 per cent disapproved.
A New York Times and Siena College survey placed presidential approval at 36 per cent among likely voters, against 59 per cent disapproval. Although individual surveys differ in methodology and sampling, their findings consistently indicate substantial public dissatisfaction with the administration.
Economic concerns dominate the negative assessments. Rising household expenses, petrol prices and inflation have weakened public confidence in Trump’s handling of an issue that remains central to voters’ political preferences.
The ABC News, Washington Post and Ipsos survey found that approximately seven in ten Americans considered petrol unaffordable. Half or more described every household purchase category examined in the survey as unaffordable, illustrating the pressure facing consumers.
The survey also found that Americans trusted Democrats over Republicans by 14 percentage points to handle inflation and the cost of living. Democrats enjoyed a nine-point advantage on managing the broader economy, representing a significant shift in public perceptions of the parties’ economic competence.
Trump’s handling of the conflict with Iran has emerged as another source of dissatisfaction. The New York Times and Siena College survey found that 65 per cent disapproved of his management of the conflict, while 73 per cent disapproved of his handling of petrol prices.
The economic consequences of military operations have become politically significant as higher energy costs affect household budgets. Public attitudes towards the conflict reflect concerns about both American involvement overseas and its domestic financial consequences.
The findings carry implications for Republicans seeking to retain control of Congress in the November 3 midterm elections. The ABC News, Washington Post and Ipsos survey showed Democratic candidates leading Republicans by 52 per cent to 44 per cent among likely voters.
Independent voters appeared particularly important to that advantage. The same survey found that 56 per cent of independent likely voters supported Democratic congressional candidates, compared with 35 per cent backing Republicans.
Another national survey conducted by CNN and SSRS placed Democrats ahead by ten percentage points on the congressional ballot, with 49 per cent supporting Democratic candidates and 39 per cent favouring Republicans.
Nevertheless, national polling cannot establish the outcome of individual congressional contests. Candidate characteristics, district boundaries, local issues and differences in voter turnout can produce results that diverge substantially from nationwide preferences.
The administration continues to retain support among a substantial section of Republican voters, particularly on immigration and border security. The NBC News Decision Desk survey found immigration remained Trump’s strongest policy area, although approval of his approach stood at 43 per cent.
Republicans also retained an advantage on crime in the ABC News, Washington Post and Ipsos survey, with Americans trusting the party over Democrats by five percentage points.
Public dissatisfaction extends beyond the president personally. The survey found that 63 per cent held an unfavourable opinion of the Republican Party, compared with 54 per cent expressing an unfavourable view of Democrats.
The findings indicate that neither major party commands universal public confidence, even as Democrats gain ground on economic management and congressional voting preferences.
Voter enthusiasm presents another challenge for Republicans. The ABC News, Washington Post and Ipsos survey found that 72 per cent of Democratic voters were absolutely certain to vote, compared with 65 per cent of Republican voters.
The survey also identified differences in preferred voting methods. Republicans led among those planning to cast ballots personally on election day, while Democrats held advantages among voters intending to participate through early voting or postal ballots.
The ABC News, Washington Post and Ipsos survey interviewed 2,545 adults between October 9 and 13 through the probability-based Ipsos KnowledgePanel. Its overall margin of sampling error was approximately two percentage points, with larger margins applying to individual demographic groups.
