President Donald Trump is facing a difficult set of new polling numbers as Americans express growing concerns about the economy, the cost of living, foreign policy and the overall direction of the country.
A new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey found that 31% of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s performance as president, while 69% disapprove.
The results offer a revealing look at voter sentiment as Washington moves closer to the 2026 midterm elections.
While Trump continues to maintain significant support among Republican voters, the nationwide numbers show dissatisfaction across several major issues — especially prices and the economy.
Most Americans Say Country Is on Wrong Track
One of the clearest warning signs for the White House involves the overall direction of the United States.
According to the AP-NORC survey, 26% of Americans believe the country is moving in the right direction, while 73% say it is headed in the wrong direction.
Those numbers have gradually deteriorated over several surveys.
In February, 29% said the country was moving in the right direction. That slipped to 28% in April and 26% by July.
The latest poll keeps that figure at 26%, showing that a large majority of Americans remain dissatisfied with the country’s trajectory.
Trump’s Overall Approval Falls
Trump’s job approval numbers also paint a challenging picture.
The survey found 31% approving of his performance and 69% disapproving.
Among those who disapprove, 51% said they strongly disapprove and 18% said they somewhat disapprove.
On the other side, 15% strongly approve and another 15% somewhat approve.
The numbers demonstrate just how sharply divided the country remains over Trump’s second term.
Economy Becomes Major Political Challenge
The economy appears to be one of Trump’s biggest vulnerabilities in the survey.
Only 26% approve of his handling of the economy, while 73% disapprove.
That is particularly significant because economic issues have historically played an important role in Trump’s political appeal.
Household finances remain a major concern for millions of Americans, particularly older voters living on fixed incomes, retirees and families watching the cost of groceries, utilities, insurance and transportation.
The poll suggests many Americans are dissatisfied with what they are seeing.
Cost of Living Produces Trump’s Weakest Numbers
The cost of living delivered some of the toughest results in the entire survey.
Only 17% approve of Trump’s handling of the cost of living, compared with 82% who disapprove.
When respondents were asked whether Trump’s performance on living costs had been better or worse than expected, only 7% said better than expected.
By comparison, 69% said worse than expected, while 23% said it was about what they anticipated.
That could become politically important because affordability was a major issue during the presidential campaign.
For many voters, economic statistics matter less than what they personally see when paying for groceries, gasoline, electricity, housing and health care.
Americans Split Sharply Over Immigration
Trump performs somewhat better on immigration than he does on economic issues.
The poll found 39% approve of his handling of immigration, while 60% disapprove.
Respondents were also asked whether Trump’s efforts to deport immigrants living in the United States illegally had gone too far.
Fifty-five percent said the administration had gone too far, 19% said it had not gone far enough and 25% said Trump’s approach had been about right.
Immigration and border security remain among the most politically divisive issues in the country, with substantial differences between Republican and Democratic voters.
Border Security Gets Stronger Numbers
Trump received comparatively better results on border security.
The survey found 48% approve of his handling of the border, compared with 51% who disapprove.
Although still slightly negative overall, that represents one of Trump’s strongest issue ratings in the poll.
It also demonstrates why immigration and border enforcement remain central themes for the administration heading into the midterm election season.
Tariffs Face Public Resistance
Trump’s trade agenda also received significant pushback.
According to the survey, 31% approve of his handling of trade negotiations with other countries, while 68% disapprove.
When respondents were asked specifically about new tariffs, 64% said Trump had gone too far.
Another 26% said his approach had been about right, while 9% said he had not gone far enough.
Tariffs have long been a key part of Trump’s economic strategy, with the president arguing that they can protect American industries and pressure foreign governments into better trade agreements.
Critics, meanwhile, argue that tariffs can raise costs for American businesses and consumers.
Iran War Weighs on Trump’s Standing
Foreign policy is another area where Trump faces considerable public skepticism.
Only 28% approve of his handling of Iran, while 71% disapprove.
Respondents were also asked whether the war with Iran had been worth fighting.
Twenty-eight percent said it had been worth the fight, while 69% said it had not.
The issue could become even more politically significant if the conflict continues affecting energy markets, gasoline prices or the broader economy.
Majority Blame Trump’s Policies for Higher Prices
The survey also asked Americans what they believe is primarily responsible for higher-than-usual prices.
Sixty-five percent said Trump’s policies were more responsible, while 33% blamed factors outside the president’s control.
Republican voters see the situation differently from the country overall, with many attributing higher prices to outside circumstances.
That partisan divide highlights one of the biggest challenges in interpreting presidential approval numbers: Americans frequently view economic and political events through very different partisan lenses.
Poll Examines Trump’s Promises
Americans were also asked whether they believe Trump follows through on his promises.
Seventeen percent said Trump keeps his promises.
Another 28% said he attempts to keep them but is not always successful.
Meanwhile, 54% said they do not believe he tries to keep them.
Republicans were considerably more favorable toward Trump on this question than Democrats and independents.
Other Trump Policies Draw Scrutiny
The AP-NORC survey asked respondents about several additional administration priorities.
On efforts involving changes to state voting procedures, 61% said Trump had gone too far, while 21% said his approach was about right and 16% said he had not gone far enough.
Respondents were also asked about remodeling projects involving the White House, Kennedy Center and other Washington landmarks.
Sixty-eight percent said those efforts had gone too far, while 24% considered them about right.
Trump’s handling of artificial intelligence was also tested for the first time in the survey.
Thirty-one percent approved, while 67% disapproved.
Republicans Still Stand Behind Trump
Despite the difficult nationwide numbers, Trump continues to receive much stronger support from Republicans than from Americans overall.
That distinction is important.
National approval polling measures sentiment across the entire adult population and does not necessarily predict how individual congressional races will unfold.
Midterm elections are decided state by state and district by district, where candidate quality, turnout, local issues and the political makeup of individual communities can produce very different results.
The poll nevertheless provides Republicans with a clear indication of the issues currently causing the greatest frustration among Americans.
Economy Could Shape the Midterms
The most consequential numbers may ultimately be those dealing with household finances.
Presidents have limited control over many forces affecting inflation and prices, including global energy markets, supply disruptions, interest rates and international conflicts.
However, voters frequently hold the party controlling the White House responsible for economic conditions.
That means the administration’s ability to improve public confidence in the economy could become increasingly important as the November elections approach.
Trump and Republican candidates are likely to continue emphasizing border security, immigration, domestic energy production and their broader economic agenda.
Democrats, meanwhile, are expected to focus heavily on affordability and dissatisfaction with Trump’s economic performance.
The final outcome will depend on what voters are experiencing closer to Election Day.
One Poll Is a Snapshot, Not a Prediction
It is also important to remember that a single public opinion survey does not determine an election.
Economic conditions can change.
International conflicts can develop rapidly.
Political campaigns can shift voter priorities.
And approval ratings can rise or fall significantly over time.
What the AP-NORC survey does show is that Trump enters the closing stretch before the midterm elections facing substantial dissatisfaction among Americans on several major issues.
Whether the president and congressional Republicans can change those perceptions could become one of the biggest political questions of the coming weeks.
The AP-NORC survey was conducted September 24 through September 28, 2026, among 2,140 U.S. adults using NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel. The overall margin of sampling error was plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.