A majority of Americans believe President Donald Trump’s first year back in the White House has been a failure, with 58 percent of respondents in a new CNN/SSRS poll describing his record as unsatisfactory. The survey, conducted at the start of a midterm election year, also found that only 36 percent think he is focusing on the right issues, down from 45 percent a year ago.
The economy remains a top concern, with 55 percent saying Trump’s policies have made matters worse, compared to 32 percent who see improvement. A significant 64 percent feel he has not done enough to reduce the cost of living, a key issue that drove many to vote for him in 2024. Even among Republicans, 42 percent say more needs to be done to lower grocery prices.
Trump’s performance on other fronts also drew criticism. Nearly half (47 percent) disapprove of his efforts as a global peacemaker, while 42 percent say he has worsened law and order in cities. Majorities also believe he has overstepped in areas such as changing cultural institutions (62 percent), abusing executive power (58 percent), and cutting too many government programs (57 percent).
Perceptions of Trump personally have declined. Only one in three say he cares about people like them, down from 40 percent in March. Just 37 percent think he puts country above personal gain, and 32 percent believe he understands average Americans’ problems. Fewer than half (49 percent) feel he has the stamina and sharpness to serve effectively, and only 35 percent are proud to have him as president.
Overall job approval stands at 39 percent, with support dropping among independents (29 percent), under-35s (30 percent), and Latinos (30 percent). While Trump retains support from nearly nine in ten Republicans, the loss of backing from groups that helped him win in 2024 is a concern. A separate poll on immigration found that 52 percent now think his deportation push has gone too far, up from 45 percent last February.
