Trump’s economic approval has sunk to ugly new lows, and fresh CBS News polling shows voters still do not trust him on prices, inflation, or household costs.
Quick Take
- CBS News polling found only 33% approved of Trump’s handling of the economy, with 67% disapproving.
- Another CBS News poll said just 27% approved of Trump’s handling of inflation, while 76% said they were worried about personal finances.
- Recent national surveys from CNN, AP-NORC, YouGov, CNBC, and CBS News all show Trump stuck in the low 30s on economic approval.
- The criticism is tied to real pocketbook pain, especially groceries, fuel, and the cost of living.
CBS Polls Show Deep Economic Frustration
The latest CBS News polling fits a larger pattern of economic anger that has followed Trump through 2026. One CBS News/YouGov survey found 33% approval on the economy and 67% disapproval, while another CBS News poll reported just 27% approval on inflation and 76% concern about personal finances. Those numbers matter because they show a broad trust problem, not a one-day dip.
CBS also found that voters were not just upset about abstract policy talk. The survey said 65% believed Trump’s policies were making the economy worse in the short term, and 57% said his policies left them financially worse off. That is the kind of verdict that cuts straight to the kitchen table. It is also the reason economic headlines have become a political problem for a White House that promised relief.
Other Major Polls Point the Same Way
CBS is not alone. CNN reported Trump’s economic approval at 31% in April and said about two-thirds of Americans thought his policies had worsened conditions. AP-NORC later found 31% approval in June, down from 40% in March. CNBC reported 39% approval on economic issues in April, its lowest level in Trump’s second term, and YouGov/The Economist found 29% approval and 63% disapproval in June.
That cross-pollster agreement is important. It suggests the problem is not limited to one survey house or one news outlet. Instead, Americans appear to be reacting to the same pressure points over and over: inflation, gasoline, grocery bills, and the cost of living. For Trump, that creates a familiar political trap. Voters may not recite policy details, but they know what is draining their wallets.
Why the Numbers Keep Moving Against Trump
The CBS results line up with other reporting that ties public anger to daily expenses. USA Today reported that many respondents were cutting grocery purchases, driving less, or delaying care because of costs. CNN said 77% believed Trump’s policies increased local cost of living. CNBC also said the decline in approval was linked to the war with Iran, higher gasoline prices, and negative economic sentiment. That mix helps explain why the issue remains so sticky.
Fox News Poll: Voters want major change amid economic and political discontent
Latest survey shows Trump approval stuck near record lowhttps://t.co/p2dcpd7Ve8— FollowFoxNews (@DCNews_Breaks) July 22, 2026
Trump’s own public comments have not helped. USA Today reported that he said, “I love the inflation,” after consumer prices were reported up 4.2% from a year earlier. That kind of line may energize supporters who like his defiance, but it gives critics an easy clip to replay when families are still paying more at the store and the pump. In a cost-of-living fight, tone matters almost as much as policy.
What the Polling Really Shows
The strongest takeaway is simple: voters are judging Trump by their wallets, and many do not like what they see. The available evidence is mostly polling, so it measures public judgment rather than proving whether the economy is objectively strong or weak. But the size and consistency of the negative numbers make the political message hard to miss. For now, Trump is losing the trust battle on affordability, and that is a serious warning sign.
Sources:
cbsnews.com, cnn.com, cnbc.com, usatoday.com, yougov.com, newsweek.com
