A new national poll has delivered troubling numbers for Donald Trump, with growing voter dissatisfaction over inflation, the economy, and rising living costs pushing his approval ratings deeper underwater.
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A Fox News poll released Wednesday found that only 39% of Americans approve of Trump’s overall job performance, while 61% disapprove — marking the highest disapproval rating recorded for him in the survey.
The poll suggests affordability concerns are dominating the political landscape ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, with voters increasingly frustrated over rising prices and economic uncertainty.
According to the survey, 58% of Americans identified the cost of living as their top economic concern, an increase of eight percentage points since February. Other financial worries trailed far behind, including government spending and the federal deficit at 16%, jobs and employment at 8%, tariffs at 8%, income inequality at 6%, and taxes at 4%.
Economic anxiety appears to be intensifying amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran, with rising fuel prices becoming another major concern for voters.
The poll found that 86% of respondents believe gasoline prices are a serious problem, while 96% said high fuel costs are negatively impacting the broader economy.
Public confidence in the economy also remains weak. About 77% of voters said the U.S. economy is in poor condition, while 73% believe economic conditions are worse now than they were one month ago. Additionally, 51% of respondents said their family’s financial situation is worse than it was two years ago.
Trump received particularly poor ratings on inflation, his weakest issue in the survey. Only 24% approved of his handling of inflation, while 76% disapproved — including 51% of Republicans, signaling unusual dissatisfaction within his own party base.
The president also received negative ratings on several other key issues, including the economy, foreign policy, and border security.
On the economy overall, only 29% approved of Trump’s performance, compared with 71% who disapproved. His foreign policy approval stood at 38%, while border security — traditionally one of his strongest issues — slipped to 49% approval against 51% disapproval.
Pollsters said Trump’s declining numbers may reflect weakening support among some core Republican and conservative voters.
Republican pollster Daron Shaw said affordability concerns are increasingly driving voter frustration.
“Despite consistently strong GOP support, the president’s numbers are leaking a bit,” Shaw said. “Make no mistake; it’s all about affordability.”
The survey also found mixed public opinion on the administration’s handling of tensions with Iran. While two-thirds of respondents believe the United States is currently prevailing against Tehran, 60% oppose direct U.S. military action, compared with 40% who support it.
The Fox News poll was conducted between May 15 and May 18 among 1,002 registered voters and carries a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
