President Donald Trump is experiencing the lowest economic approval ratings of his presidency, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with his management of tariffs, inflation, and government spending. The latest CNBC All-America Economic Survey highlights a significant decline in economic optimism among Americans since his election in 2024.
Currently, more citizens anticipate a worsening economy than at any point since 2023, with a notable shift towards pessimism regarding the stock market. In a survey of 1,000 Americans, 44% approve of Trump’s overall presidency, while 51% disapprove, a slightly better outcome than when he left office in 2020.
However, his economic approval stands at 43%, with 55% disapproving—marking the first instance in any CNBC poll where he has a net negative rating on economic issues. While his Republican base remains supportive, discontent is palpable among Democrats and independents, with Democrats’ net economic approval plunging to -90, considerably worse than during his first term.
The survey, conducted from April 9 to April 13, indicates that Trump has convinced only his base of the potential positive impact of his economic policies. Alarmingly, 49% of respondents believe the economy will worsen over the next year, echoing the most pessimistic sentiment since 2023.
Many of those critical of Trump’s policies now assert they are detrimental to the economy. Public dissatisfaction is also evident regarding tariffs, which are disapproved by a significant margin among all political affiliations.
A majority believes that tariffs negatively impact American workers and the economy. Additionally, public perception of the stock market has turned distinctly negative, with only 38% viewing it as a good time to invest.
While Trump’s approval ratings face significant challenges, they have not yet translated into substantial gains for Democrats in terms of congressional preference, indicating a complex political landscape moving forward.