Poll shows 82% of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of inflation
An AP-NORC survey found that 82% of U.S. adults disapprove of President Donald Trump’s management of inflation, a level of opposition rarely seen for any president on a single issue.
A new AP-NORC poll released Thursday indicates that 82% of American adults disapprove of President Donald Trump’s handling of inflation, while only 17% express approval. The margin of disapproval is higher than that recorded for presidents on wars, crisis responses and major scandals in recent history.
Historical comparisons show that former President George W. Bush faced a 77% disapproval rating for his economic policies after the 2008 financial crisis, and President Jimmy Carter reached a 74% disapproval rate amid high unemployment and inflation in 1980. By contrast, disapproval of presidential war policies has generally peaked in the 60-70% range, such as Bush’s Iraq war and Joe Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal.
The poll also found that 65% of respondents attribute high prices to Trump’s policies, compared with 44% who blamed Joe Biden for inflation in a similar survey conducted before the 2022 midterm elections. In a recent interview with Time magazine, Trump rejected responsibility for affordability issues and suggested that inflation is the result of Biden’s actions, despite recent data showing higher inflation rates than when he assumed office.
Analysts note that the unprecedented level of opposition on a single issue could influence legislative strategies and electoral dynamics ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.