Majority Say Trump's Policies Have Worsened the Economy

Donald trump 

CNN Poll: Majority Say Trump's Policies Have Worsened the Economy

A new CNN poll conducted by SSRS finds that 59% of Americans believe President Donald Trump’s policies have made the country’s economic conditions worse — an increase from 51% in March and now comparable to the lowest ratings President Joe Biden faced during his tenure.

Broad dissatisfaction with the economy persists. The survey reveals limited public support for the White House’s sweeping new trade initiatives. Although the full impact of the latest tariffs has yet to materialize, 60% of Americans already say Trump’s policies have raised the cost of living in their communities, while only 12% believe his agenda has helped lower prices. Overall, 69% of respondents think a recession in the next year is at least somewhat likely, including 32% who consider it very likely. Just 34% describe themselves as enthusiastic or optimistic about the economy, compared to 29% who are pessimistic and 37% who express fear. Among Americans under 45, as well as 76% of Americans of color, pessimism and fear are especially prevalent.

This downturn in public opinion marks a shift for Trump, who previously enjoyed relatively strong approval for his economic management during his first term. During the 2024 campaign, he had promised to "immediately bring prices down." He also performed strongly among voters concerned about the economy, according to CNN’s exit polling.

One 59-year-old Republican man from Georgia, nearing retirement, shared his concern with CNN: "Everything I worked for all my life is rapidly disappearing. It will probably take years to recover what I have lost due to what’s going on."

Despite the overall gloom, Republican perceptions of the economy have brightened slightly in recent months. Most GOP respondents express optimism about the long-term effects of Trump's tariff strategy, even though broader public skepticism remains.

Skepticism Surrounds Tariff Policies

The poll shows that 55% of Americans view Trump’s tariff actions so far as bad policy, with only 28% in support. Opinions about tariffs on Chinese goods are slightly less negative: 53% call them bad policy, while 32% see them as good.

Conducted from April 17 to 24 — after the administration unveiled major new tariffs on dozens of countries and then paused some of them — the poll captures a turbulent period of mixed messages from the White House about trade negotiations. By a margin of 58% to 42%, Americans believe Trump lacks a clear strategy on tariffs. Majorities expect his tariff approach to harm the U.S. economy (72%), America's global standing (60%), and their own personal finances (59%) in the short term. Fewer than 30% think the tariffs will help in any of these areas.

Long-term expectations are somewhat more divided: 53% believe the tariffs will ultimately hurt the economy, while 34% think they will be beneficial. Among Republicans, optimism about the future impact of tariffs remains relatively strong — about three-quarters think they will eventually help, even though 47% say tariffs are hurting the economy now.

John Metcalf, a Democrat from Michigan surveyed by CNN, said, "I'm not an economics guy, but I can kind of see what he's doing with tariffs. It's just causing confusion. If you're a business owner, how can you make future plans when policies change every other day?"

Economic Sentiment Remains Grim

Only 28% of Americans currently rate the economy as good, while 71% call it poor — figures that have remained steady since fall 2023. Satisfaction with personal finances is similarly stagnant, with 47% saying they are content with their own financial situation.

Party affiliation heavily colors economic perceptions. Since March, the share of Republicans rating the economy as good has jumped 10 points, while Democrats have grown even more negative. Republicans are now more than ten times as likely as Democrats to express optimism about economic conditions.

Still, cracks are emerging even within Republican support. Although 94% of Republicans trust Trump to handle the economy, only 63% say his policies have improved economic conditions, and just 23% credit him with reducing living costs. Regarding the tariffs, 28% of Republicans believe they will hurt their personal finances, compared to 33% who expect them to help.

As one Republican from New Jersey noted, “The prices for energy, medical services, higher education, repair and maintenance continue to rise. I think that President Trump's program will help once they are given a chance.”

Manufacturing vs. Office Work Preferences

Despite the Trump administration’s claim that tariffs will help revive U.S. manufacturing, Americans overwhelmingly prefer office jobs over manufacturing work, even if the pay were identical. By a margin of 73% to 26%, Americans say they would rather work in an office. Among men, 37% prefer manufacturing jobs, with that figure rising to 43% among Republican men.

Poll Methodology

The CNN/SSRS poll was conducted between April 17 and 24, surveying 1,678 adults nationwide via a combination of online and telephone interviews. The sample was drawn from a probability-based online panel and a registration-based source, with initial contact made by mail, phone, or email. The poll’s margin of sampling error is plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.