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Politics · North America

CNBC survey puts Trump's economic approval at a term low

The CNBC All-America Economic Survey found President Donald Trump’s economic approval at its lowest point in either of his terms. It also found that 80% rated the economy fair or poor and that respondents favored Democratic control of Congress, 52% to 45%.

AI-assisted synthesis · Based on 5 outlets' reporting · Article text read from 2 of 5 outletsHow it's made

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Coverage: Center OnlyL 0 · C 3 · R 0 · 2 unrated
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What happened

Key facts

  • The CNBC All-America Economic Survey found Donald Trump’s economic approval at the lowest point of either of his terms (per londoninsider.co.uk, The Economic Times).
  • The survey found that 80% of respondents rated the economy fair or poor, the highest share recorded since December 2023 (per londoninsider.co.uk).
  • The survey found 63% of respondents pessimistic about the economy and its outlook, one percentage point higher than in July (per londoninsider.co.uk).
  • Micah Roberts, a partner at Public Opinion Strategies and the survey’s Republican pollster, said Republicans had become more pessimistic (per londoninsider.co.uk, The Economic Times).
  • Jay Campbell, a partner at Hart Associates and the survey’s Democratic pollster, said the findings showed movement away from Republicans or toward Democrats and would make him very nervous for Republican campaigns (per londoninsider.co.uk).
  • The survey included 1,000 registered voters nationwide and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1% (per londoninsider.co.uk).
  • The Economic Times reported that Trump’s approval rating improved in October; its headline said the change came ahead of the November 3 US midterm elections (per The Economic Times, londoninsider.co.uk).
  • The Economic Times reported July approval and disapproval figures of 23% and 76%, respectively, and August figures of 28% and 71% (per The Economic Times).

The brief

The CNBC All-America Economic Survey found President Donald Trump’s economic approval at the lowest point of either of his terms, while 80% of respondents rated the economy fair or poor. The survey also found that 63% were pessimistic about the economy and its outlook, one percentage point more than in July.

Its results present a difficult picture for Republican candidates ahead of the midterm elections. The poll surveyed 1,000 registered voters nationwide and reported a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1%. It found that respondents favored Democratic control of Congress over Republican control by 52% to 45%.

The 80% fair-or-poor rating was the highest recorded since December 2023, according to the survey findings. The survey’s two pollsters offered different perspectives on where the worsening economic mood was coming from.

Micah Roberts, a partner at Public Opinion Strategies and the Republican pollster, said the shift was driven by Republicans becoming more pessimistic, rather than Democrats or independents turning more negative.

Jay Campbell, a partner at Hart Associates and the Democratic pollster, said the findings showed movement away from Republicans or toward Democrats and would make him “very nervous” for Republican campaigns. The Economic Times reported a separate change in Trump’s approval ratings, saying his rating improved in October.

Its account gave July figures of 23% approval and 76% disapproval, followed by August figures of 28% approval and 71% disapproval. The outlet linked its account to a Newsweek report citing Echelon Insights Verified Voter Omnibus surveys; the CNBC survey measures economic approval, while those figures concern Trump’s approval rating more generally.

The Economic Times also said economic concerns usually weigh more heavily than foreign policy in midterm voting.

That framing places the CNBC survey’s economic findings at the center of the political stakes: respondents’ pessimism and their preference for Democratic control of Congress point in the same direction, while the reported October improvement in Trump’s broader approval offers a contrasting measure rather than a direct reversal of the CNBC economic result.

The CNBC survey’s findings and the pollsters’ interpretations do not determine how voters will cast ballots. They do, however, identify the economic mood and congressional preference measured among registered voters, alongside a separate report of improving overall approval.

The central distinction is what each measure captures: views of Trump’s handling of the economy in the CNBC survey, versus the broader approval trend described by The Economic Times.

Why it matters

  • Registered voters’ economic assessments are a concrete political stake: 80% rated the economy fair or poor, and 63% were pessimistic about its condition and outlook.
  • The survey found respondents favored Democratic control of Congress 52% to 45%, a measure with direct relevance to Republican candidates’ midterm prospects.
  • Republicans were identified by pollster Micah Roberts as the source of the increased economic pessimism, complicating the party’s position among its own voters.
  • The Economic Times reported improving overall approval in October, while the CNBC survey found Trump’s economic approval at a term low; the distinct measures offer different signals about voter sentiment.

What to watch next

  • Whether the economic pessimism measured by the CNBC survey is reflected in voters’ choices in the November 3 US midterm elections.
  • Whether the 52% to 45% preference for Democratic control of Congress corresponds with the congressional outcome.
  • Whether later polling continues to distinguish Trump’s economic approval from the broader approval improvement reported by The Economic Times.

How it's being covered

Coverage analysisShow details
5 source articles · 5 unique outlets
Outlet political mix: Center Only· 3 Center · 2 unrated
Where the outlets are based: US/Canada 40% · Asia 40% · Other 20%
Outlet political mix
Center Only
Left
Center
Right
0 outlets
3 outlets
0 outlets
The marker shows coverage balance: each unique outlet counts once. 2 unrated outlets are not included.
Geography
Where the outlets covering this story are based.
5 unique outletsDominant coverage: US/Canada
Coverage imbalance
  • Coverage is currently concentrated among Center-rated outlets (3 of 3 rated sources); comparatively few Left or Right-rated outlets have published on the event.
How we measure coverage

How outlets' accounts compare

1 framing difference · 2 uncorroborated claims · 1 information gap
The reports repeat the same account with different emphasis; its central claims are not independently confirmed in the reporting Updat3 read.Compared across 2 reports whose article text Updat3 read; 3 other outlets were checked by headline only.
Framing / emphasis differences
Sources emphasise different angles, actors or consequences of the same reporting.
  • The CNBC survey coverage centers on Trump’s economic approval reaching a term low, widespread negative views of the economy, and a Democratic advantage in preferences for congressional control; The Economic Times emphasizes an October improvement in Trump’s broader approval rating.
Updat3: These are differences of emphasis, not disputes about what is reported. They do not show that the reported claims are true.
One-sided or uncorroborated claims
Claims that come from one party or one source family and are not independently corroborated.
  • Micah Roberts said Republicans, rather than Democrats or independents, had become more pessimistic.
  • Jay Campbell said the movement shown by the survey would make him “very nervous” for Republican campaigns.
Updat3: Not independently corroborated yet — treat as a claim, not an established fact.
Not established by the reporting
Information the available reporting does not contain or confirm. This is a gap, not a disagreement.
  • The sources do not provide the CNBC survey’s exact percentage for Trump’s economic approval.
Updat3: Updat3 cannot conclude anything about this from the current sources.

Timeline

Developments from this story's sources, dated background we compiled and fact-checked, and our earlier coverage. Each row says which.
  1. Gallup began its presidential approval polling in 1937, during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency.
    Background · from our historical context
  2. The University of Michigan began its Surveys of Consumers in 1946, tracking household views of economic conditions and expectations.
    Background · from our historical context
  3. In 2016, Trump had campaigned on tax reductions and trade changes; those proposals supplied an earlier reference point for assessing his economic record.
    Background · from our historical context
  4. Donald Trump won the presidential election.
    Background · compiled and fact-checked by Updat3
  5. In November 2018, during Trump’s first presidency, Democrats won control of the House and Republicans increased their Senate majority.
    Background · from our historical context
  6. In November 2022, Democrats retained control of the Senate while Republicans won a narrow House majority; inflation and the cost of living were prominent concerns in that election.
    Background · from our historical context
  7. Donald Trump and J.D. Vance won the presidential election.
    Background · compiled and fact-checked by Updat3
  8. Donald Trump was inaugurated for a second, non-consecutive term as U.S. president.
    Background · compiled and fact-checked by Updat3
  9. President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on imports from U.S. trading partners.
    Background · compiled and fact-checked by Updat3
  10. The CNBC All-America Economic Survey put Trump’s economic approval at 23% and disapproval at 76%.
    Background · compiled and fact-checked by Updat3

How we got here

The preceding CNBC All-America Economic Survey figures, reported for July and August 2026, put Donald Trump’s approval on the economy at 23% and 28%, respectively, while disapproval stood at 76% and 71%. Economic approval has mattered in earlier midterm elections, when voters choose members of Congress midway through a president’s four-year term.

In November 2022, Democrats retained control of the Senate while Republicans won a narrow House majority; inflation and the cost of living were prominent concerns in that election. In November 2018, during Trump’s first presidency, Democrats won control of the House and Republicans increased their Senate majority.

Original sources

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