New Poll: Trump Scores Badly on Economy, Inflation, Ukraine-Russia War

 

Trump Faces Mixed Voter Sentiment in Latest NBC Poll

A new NBC News poll published Sunday reveals that former President Donald Trump is struggling to gain favor with voters on several major issues.

Trump entered the White House with strong Republican enthusiasm, as party leaders claimed he had a clear mandate following GOP victories in the presidency and both chambers of Congress. His early agenda included aggressive budget cuts, leading to mass layoffs of probationary federal employees and widespread contract buyouts.

On trade policy, Trump took an unpredictable approach to tariffs—initially proposing steep increases on imports from Europe, China, Canada, and Mexico before later reversing course, often claiming he had secured concessions. For instance, after threatening Canada with a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum, he ultimately scaled it back to 25%.

This inconsistency contributed to significant market volatility, pushing the Dow Jones into a "correction"—a 10% drop in value—within a month. Though the market partially rebounded by the end of the week, concerns over economic instability persist.

Key Poll Findings

The NBC News poll, conducted March 7-11 among 1,000 registered voters (margin of error: ±3.1%), found:

• Overall Approval: 47% approve of Trump’s performance, while 51% disapprove. This marks his highest-ever approval rating.
• MAGA Base Support: Trump’s approval has improved among self-identified "MAGA Republicans."
• Policy Ratings: Voters give Trump net-negative marks on foreign policy (45% approve, 53% disapprove), the economy (44%-54%), and inflation (42%-55%). However, his ratings on immigration and border security have improved.
• National Sentiment: More voters believe the country is on the right track than at any time since early 2004, though a majority still feels it’s headed in the wrong direction.
• Public Perceptions: The country remains divided on issues like diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) (39% positive, 43% negative, 14% neutral) and Ukraine (41% positive, 28% negative, 27% neutral). Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remains popular despite past tensions with Trump.

Political Reactions

Republican Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri posted on X (formerly Twitter):

"President Trump's approval rating: All-time highs. The Democratic Party's approval rating: All-time lows. Oh, and Americans are more optimistic about the direction of the country than at any point since 2004. Any questions?"

 

The poll results highlight both Trump’s enduring support among Republicans and ongoing challenges with the broader electorate as he navigates key policy debates.