A growing share of Republican voters say President Donald Trump’s economic policies have made conditions worse, according to a Pew Research Center poll released Thursday.
The survey found 28% of Republicans hold that view, up from 18% in both January 2026 and September 2025.
Overall, 60% of respondents said Trump’s policies have worsened the economy.
Only 24% of all voters described the economy as excellent or good, including 41% of Republicans and 10% of Democrats.
The last time a majority of Pew respondents rated the economy positively was in January 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among Republicans, 19% said they expect the economy to be worse in a year, higher than the 14% who said so in January.
Most Republicans continue to back the president. The poll showed 69% approve of his job performance, while 29% disapprove. Conservative Republicans gave him a net approval rating of plus 54 points.The findings come as midterm elections approach and the economy ranks as a top concern for many voters.
A separate Economist/YouGov poll found 32% of Americans named inflation and prices as their leading issue, with another 14% citing jobs and the economy.
In that survey, just 21% called the economy excellent or good, while 75% rated it fair or poor.Democrats have made economic struggles a central theme in their campaigns. Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, now running for Senate, highlighted rising grocery prices, medical bills and child care costs in a recent social media post.
White House officials have pointed to positive developments, including what Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called the biggest tax refund season in American history, with average refunds exceeding $3,400.
A recent Fox News poll showed Democrats leading Republicans 54% to 45% on who would better handle the economy, the party’s strongest advantage on the issue since 2006.
New tariffs took effect this week, including higher duties on imports from several countries. Administration officials describe the measures as necessary to protect U.S. manufacturing and address forced labor in supply chains.
Gas prices have also risen amid renewed Middle East tensions, reaching a national average of $4.091 on Thursday, according to AAA.
The Pew poll surveyed 1,602 adults from July 17-20 and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.
