Trump approval falls to 37% economic discontent
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- Trump approval rating fell to 37% in a New York Times/Siena poll released May 18, down 3 points from the January poll.
- Independents disapproved of Trump at 69%, up from 62% in January, according to the same poll.
- Voters disapproved of Trump's handling of the economy at 64% and of cost‑of‑living at 69%, per the NYT poll.
- CBS News poll found 65% of respondents say Trump's policies are worsening the economy in the short term, and 37% of Republicans now disapprove of his handling of inflation, up 11 points since March.
- Echelon Insights reported that in January 2025, 50% of Americans somewhat or strongly approved of Trump's handling of the economy, a figure that fell to 40% after his April 2025 global tariffs, per a Quinnipiac University poll.
- White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said the administration remains focused on tax cuts, deregulation and energy abundance despite short‑term disruptions from Operation Epic Fury.
Why it matters: Trump's slump in approval, especially among independents, erodes his electoral base ahead of the 2026 midterms, weakening GOP chances to retain the House while bolstering Democratic narratives about economic mismanagement. The economic discontent also fuels voter backlash against the Iran war, with 64% calling it a wrong decision, further compounding the administration's political vulnerabilities.
