Trump Hit by Humiliating Poll as His 2026 Nightmare Looms

President Donald Trump’s much-touted economic “revival” is facing a stunning backlash, as a new nationwide poll reveals nearly half of Americans say their financial situation has worsened during his second term — and most squarely blame the man in the Oval Office.

A fresh Harris survey, first reported by The Guardian, paints a grim picture for Trump heading into the 2026 midterms. Forty-five percent of Americans now say their financial security is “getting worse,” compared to just 20 percent who say things are improving.

That pessimism comes as a growing majority — 57 percent — believe the country has slipped into a recession. The shift marks an 11-point jump since President Joe Biden left office in January 2025, when optimism briefly surged on Wall Street before Trump reignited trade conflicts and slashed consumer-protection rules.

Among Democrats and Independents, blame for the downturn falls overwhelmingly on Trump’s shoulders: 76 percent of Democrats and 72 percent of Independents say the president’s policies are directly responsible for rising prices and shrinking savings. Even 55 percent of Republicans acknowledge their wallets have taken a hit.

“I voted for him once, but this time my grocery bill made up my mind,” said Angela Ruiz, a teacher from Phoenix. “He talks about winning, but families like mine are losing.”

Economists say the warning signs are everywhere. GDP growth has nearly halved compared to 2024 amid Trump’s escalating tariff war with European allies and Asian trade partners. Inflation remains stubbornly high, hovering above 6 percent for much of 2025 — a figure that’s squeezing working-class Americans from the gas pump to the dinner table.

“The president’s trade brinkmanship has backfired,” said Dr. Marcus Weller, an economist at Columbia University. “We’re seeing the ripple effects of policies that punish consumers more than competitors.”

A separate Politico poll released earlier this month found 49 percent of respondents consider the current cost-of-living crisis “the worst of their lifetime.” Meanwhile, a November NBC survey shows Democrats holding an eight-point advantage ahead of next year’s congressional elections — the party’s largest midterm lead since 2018.

“People are angry, anxious, and tired of being told everything’s fine when it clearly isn’t,” said Democratic strategist Maya Patel. “If the economy doesn’t turn around fast, 2026 could make the 2018 blue wave look tame.”

Trump has brushed off the criticism, insisting the public simply doesn’t “see the progress yet.” In a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal, he said, “It may take people a while to figure all these things out… All this money pouring into our country — car plants, AI, lots of stuff — it’s tremendous.”

But analysts say those words ring hollow to voters watching their savings evaporate. “He’s running out of scapegoats,” said one former Republican aide. “The numbers are what they are.”

As the 2026 midterms approach, Trump’s biggest threat may not come from political opponents but from frustrated voters feeling the squeeze of his own economic policies.

Source: The Guardian, Politico, NBC News, Wall Street Journal.