A new poll released on Monday reveals that more Americans believe President Trump is steering the U.S. economy in the wrong direction than in the right one. The NPR/PBS News/Marist survey showed that 46% of Americans think Trump’s policies are harming the economy, while only 42% believe he’s improving it. About 11% of respondents said they haven’t seen any substantial change in the economic landscape under Trump’s leadership.
This poll, conducted before the president followed through on his plan to implement tariffs on major trade partners like China, Mexico, and Canada, reflects growing concerns among the public. Polls in recent months have shown a steady decline in confidence regarding Trump’s economic management, a key issue heading into the 2024 election. Many voters are worried about rising inflation, the cost of living, and job security, which have dominated discussions about his presidency.
However, while some aspects of Trump’s leadership on the economy have raised concerns, there are areas where his policies receive more favorable reactions. For example, when it comes to immigration, 47% of Americans approve of the direction Trump is taking, with a solid number of respondents recognizing improvements in policy. This indicates that his approach to securing the nation’s borders and enforcing immigration laws continues to resonate with a significant portion of the American public.
On foreign policy, though, the picture is more divided. The poll found that nearly half of Americans, 49%, believe Trump is mishandling the country’s foreign relations, while 44% disagree, viewing his approach as positive. These figures show that while the president’s foreign policy decisions have had their fair share of support, they also face considerable opposition.
Despite these mixed opinions, the overall sentiment regarding the direction of the nation is shifting. While 54% of Americans still feel the country is headed in the wrong direction, this is a slight improvement from previous months, when 64% of respondents held this view. Meanwhile, 45% of Americans now feel the nation is on the right path, reflecting growing optimism among certain demographics, particularly Republicans. According to the poll, 77% of Republicans believe the country is strong, signaling a clear divide in perceptions of the nation’s future.
The poll was conducted between February 24-26, surveying 1,694 U.S. adults, with a margin of error of 2.8 percentage points. Among the 1,533 registered voters, the margin of error was 3 percentage points.