Trump approval sinks as costs rise, poll finds
Trump approval sinks as costs rise, poll finds
Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAYFri, May 15, 2026 at 11:06 PM UTC
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With less than six months until the midterm elections, President Donald Trump is facing record disapproval on the economy and healthcare, according to a new CNN/SSRS poll, as concerns about rising costs continue to weigh on voters.
The survey, conducted April 30 to May 4, found 77% of Americans say Trump’s policies have increased the cost of living in their communities, while about two-thirds say those policies have worsened economic conditions nationwide. The results also show Trump’s approval on the economy at a low point and his healthcare disapproval at a record high.
The findings come as Trump has emphasized foreign policy priorities over domestic economic concerns. Asked about rising gas prices on May 12, the president said his focus was on preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
“I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I don’t think about anybody. I think about one thing. We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That’s all,” Trump said.
The poll surveyed 1,499 U.S. adults and has a margin of error of ±2.8 percentage points.
US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One before his departure from Beijing Capital Airport in Beijing on May 15, 2026.
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Trump’s approval ratings
Trump’s disapproval on healthcare has reached 65%, the highest level for any president this century, with former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush hitting peaks of 63% in 2006 and 2014, respectively. according to a CNN analysis.
Overall, just 35% of Americans approve of Trump’s performance, leaving him underwater in the latest survey. His approval rating has been net negative for roughly a year and has trended more negative in recent months.
According to polling averages as of May 15:
New York Times: 38% approve, 59% disapprove
Silver Bulletin: 38.5% approve, 58.3% disapprove
RealClearPolitics Poll Average: 40.3% approve, 56.5% disapprove
USA TODAY’s Kinsey Crowley and Joey Garrison contributed to this report.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump disapproval rises on economy, healthcare: CNN poll
Source: “AOL Breaking”
