Recent polling suggests a growing number of voters believe the country is heading in the wrong direction under President Donald Trump‘s leadership.
Why It Matters
Growing angst among voters over the direction the country is heading in could have major political and policy implications for the president. Declining confidence in his leadership could weaken his political clout and lower his ability to push his agenda through Congress.
AP
What To Know
Recent polls show that voters are close to split on whether the country is headed in the right direction, with those saying it is heading in the wrong direction growing.
According to a recent Emerson College poll, conducted between March 8 and March 10 among 1,000 registered voters, 50 percent of respondents said they think the country is on the wrong track, while 50 percent said they think that it is headed in the right direction.
This is a shift from the same poll in January when 52 percent of voters said the country was headed in the right direction, while 48 percent said the opposite. Both polls had a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
The latest poll conducted by YouGov and The Economist this week showed the same trend, with just 36 percent of respondents saying the country is headed in the right direction, down from 43 percent in the poll conducted the previous week, and 52 percent saying it is headed in the wrong direction, up from 48 percent the previous week.
The latest poll was conducted between March 9 and March 11 among 1,699 voters. The previous one was conducted between March 1 and March 4 among 1,638 voters. Both polls had a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
Polls also show significant divisions in perceptions of the country’s direction, largely along party lines. According to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, conducted between March 3 and March 4, only 34 percent of Americans believe the country is headed in the right direction, while 49 percent think it is going in the wrong direction. Among Republicans, 68 percent of respondents in that poll said they think the country is on the right track, contrasting sharply with just 7 percent of Democrats who said the same. Among independents, 31 percent said they think the country is headed in the right direction with 46 percent disagreeing.
A similar trend among parties was seen in the YouGov/The Economist poll, where 70 percent of Republicans said they think the country is moving in the right direction, while only 11 percent of Democrats agree. Among independents in this poll, 26 percent said the country was moving in the right direction versus 56 percent who said the opposite.
The latest Emerson poll reflects a slightly less pronounced divide but still shows that 57 percent of Republicans view the country heading in a good direction , while only 11 percent of Democrats share that sentiment. Among independents in this poll, 32 percent think the country is on the right track, while 36 percent disagree.
The question about the direction of the country also comes as polls have shown Trump’s approval rating declining.
The latest Emerson College poll found 47 percent approval of Trump’s job performance and 45 percent disapproval, down from 48 percent and 43 percent in early March. Similarly, a Trafalgar Group/InsiderAdvantage poll from March 5 showed 50 percent approval, a drop from 54 percent in February.
Recent polls suggest that Trump’s declining popularity may stem from the public’s dissatisfaction with his handling of the economy and foreign policy.
In the most recent Emerson College poll, Trump’s disapproval rating was highest on the U.S. economy, with 48 percent of respondents expressing disapproval and 37 percent approval. Similarly, a CNN poll conducted from March 6 to March 9 among 1,206 U.S. adults, found that 56 percent disapproved of his economic performance, while 44 percent approved.
Trump’s handling of tariffs, however, is where there is the most dissatisfaction in the CNN poll, with 61 percent of respondents disapproving and only 39 percent approving. The poll came shortly after Trump’s decision to impose additional tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico, and China, a move that some economic experts say could contribute to higher inflation.
Goldman Sachs has warned that tariffs could raise inflation by 1 percent while also reducing profits for U.S. companies and provoking retaliatory measures from other nations. In response, Canada is expected to announce billions of dollars in retaliatory tariffs.
On the foreign policy, the Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that 37 percent of respondents approved of Trump’s handling of international relations, while 50 percent disapproved, resulting in a net approval rating of minus 13 points. This marks a decline from January, when Trump’s net approval rating on foreign policy was a plus 2 points.
In the latest CNN poll, 58 percent of respondents disapproved of Trump’s foreign policy handling, with 42 percent in favor.
The recent polling comes after Trump had a tense confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office leading to a pause in U.S. military aid to Ukraine. On Tuesday, Trump announced that a 30-day ceasefire had been agreed upon by Ukraine during talks with the nation in Saudi Arabia. He also stated that he planned to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with hopes that Putin would agree to the deal.
What People Are Saying
Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said: “As President Trump reaches his first 50 days in office, his approval rating has declined from 49%-41% to 47%-45%, reflecting a nation deeply divided.
“Despite not yet delivering on the economy in voters’ minds, Trump’s support remains strong. However, the true challenge will be how voters perceive their financial future. While little has shifted since the election, the initial ‘honeymoon phase’ seems to be coming to an end.”
What Happens Next
If the economy remains in turmoil and Trump continues his current approach to foreign policy, polling indicates his approval ratings could decline.
