Trump’s Approval Tanks as Americans Sour on Economy

President Donald Trump is sliding deeper into political trouble as his approval rating continues to shrink, dragged down by mounting frustration over soaring prices and a cost-of-living crisis that refuses to ease.

A new Reuters poll released over the weekend found Trump’s approval rating at just 41 percent, down a point from last month. The majority of Americans—54 percent—now believe the economy is on the wrong track, compared to 52 percent in July. Even more troubling for the White House: only 35 percent approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, and just 28 percent think he’s making progress on the daily squeeze families feel at the grocery store and gas pump.

“The American people are exhausted,” said Democratic strategist Karen Finney. “They’re paying more for food, more for rent, and more for healthcare, while the president continues to insist everything is fine. It’s not fine.”

Trump, however, has leaned heavily on issues that continue to resonate with his conservative base. His aggressive immigration crackdowns remain popular among Republican voters, and his “law and order” rhetoric following a string of violent incidents has bolstered his standing with right-leaning Americans.

But outside that base, cracks are widening. Following the assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk earlier this month, a majority of Americans now say political extremism is one of the nation’s most dangerous problems. Trump has attempted to turn the moment into a political weapon, declaring that extremism comes “largely from the left.” Critics, however, accuse him of using tragedy to stoke division.

“Instead of uniting the country, this president points fingers and inflames tensions,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.). “That’s not leadership. That’s reckless.”

Even as voters vent frustration with Trump, Democrats face their own challenge. The poll found that when asked who has a better plan for managing the economy, more respondents still gave the edge to Republicans—34 percent to 24 percent. Analysts say that gap underscores a messaging problem for Democrats, even as discontent grows under Trump’s leadership.

“The reality is, Americans don’t trust Trump’s policies, but they’re not convinced Democrats have answers either,” said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. “That’s a dangerous place to be heading into 2026.”

For now, Trump’s presidency is defined by a paradox: strong support among his base on immigration and crime, but widespread unease over his economic record. And with inflation still gnawing away at family budgets, every dip in the polls raises the same question—how long can Trump’s political balancing act last?