Public discontent with President Donald Trump is deepening, with his approval rating falling to its lowest level of his second term and a growing majority of Americans expressing pessimism about the country’s direction, according to a new NBC News poll.
The survey, released Saturday, found that 71% of US adults believe the country is on the “wrong track,” the highest share recorded since Trump began his second term.
His overall approval rating stood at 34%, while 66% disapproved of his performance. The proportion of respondents who strongly disapproved of the president reached 51%, marking another second-term high.
Economic pressures appear to be a major source of public frustration. Nearly one-third of respondents, or 31%, identified the economy as the country’s most important issue, while 44% said their personal financial situation had deteriorated over the past year.
The cost of everyday necessities remains a particular concern. Two-thirds of those surveyed, 67%, described gasoline prices as a serious problem. Respondents also reported adjusting their grocery shopping and cutting other expenditures to afford essential goods.
The findings point to potential difficulties for Republicans as they seek to retain control of Congress in the November 3 midterm elections.
Among registered voters, 55% said they would prefer Democrats to control Congress, compared with 45% who favored Republican control. The figures suggest Democrats may have an advantage in the contest over congressional leadership, although the poll does not determine the election outcome.
Dissatisfaction with the president’s broader policy agenda was also evident. Some 58% of respondents said Trump’s policies were harming the country, while 28% believed they were having a positive effect.
The poll showed particularly weak ratings for Trump on two issues: the cost of living and the war with Iran. Only 27% approved of his handling of living costs, while 29% supported his approach to the conflict with Iran.
Immigration and border security remained areas of relative strength for the president. His approval rating on those issues reached 43%, higher than his ratings on the economy-related concerns and the war.
The results highlight the political challenges facing Trump and his party as voters prepare to decide the balance of power in Congress. With household finances and the cost of living weighing heavily on public opinion, economic concerns could remain a central factor in the campaign ahead of the November elections.
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