NBC Poll: 71% Say Nation Is on Wrong Track as Trump Approval Falls to 34%
The NBC News Decision Desk Poll finds the grimmest national mood of Trump's second term, with voters preferring Democrats for Congress 55%-45% but still holding a negative view of both parties.
Weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, 71% of U.S. adults say the country is on the wrong track, the highest share of President Donald Trump's second term, according to a new NBC News Decision Desk Poll released Sunday. For the first time in the term, the share saying the country is on the right track has sunk into the 20s.
Trump's approval rating among adults slipped to 34%, a second-term low in the poll, while his disapproval rose to 66%. A majority, 51%, now "strongly disapprove" of his performance, also a second-term high. Among registered voters the numbers are slightly better for the president, at 39% approve and 61% disapprove. Registered voters said they prefer Democrats to control Congress by 55%-45%, a sign that Republican majorities in the House and Senate are in danger.
The poll found little enthusiasm for the opposition either. Among adults, 43% view the Democratic Party favorably and 57% unfavorably, while 37% view the Republican Party favorably and 63% unfavorably. A majority of respondents view the Trump administration as uniquely corrupt, even as they say they are skeptical of corruption in both parties. Asked about the president's policies, 58% said they are hurting the country, 28% said they are helping, and 14% said they make no difference.
Cracks are showing inside Mr. Trump's own coalition. His approval stands at 76% among Republican adults, down from his earlier numbers in the poll, driven by a decline among Republicans who consider themselves more supporters of the party than of the MAGA movement. Among independents it is 21%. Among men under 30, a group he won by one point in 2024 exit polling, his approval is 28%, and among Latinos, who also moved toward him in 2024, it is 31%. The results show the tricky balance facing Republican candidates in competitive races, who must energize loyal voters without alienating the larger group that disapproves of the administration.
Economic pain sits at the center of the mood. The economy tops the list of most important issues at 31%. Only 18% of Americans said their financial situation is better than a year ago, 38% said it is about the same and 44% said it is worse. Inflation rose to 3.7% year over year last month, and 67% of respondents called gas prices a "very serious" or "somewhat serious" problem. Majorities said they have changed what groceries they buy and cut back on spending to afford necessities, and pluralities said they have cut back on electricity use, changed or canceled travel plans, or delayed a major purchase.
Mr. Trump's approval on specific issues is weak. It is 27% on the cost of living, 29% on the war with Iran and 33% on his handling of artificial intelligence. His best issue, border security and immigration, still draws only 43% approval. The president has also promised $5,000 payments if Republicans win the midterms, but voters are not buying it: Just 14% said they definitely or probably expect to receive such a check if the GOP keeps control of Congress, while 71% said they definitely or probably will not. The poll was reported by NBC News political correspondent Sahil Kapur.
