A stark new opinion poll has delivered a damning verdict on Donald Trump's first year back in the White House, with a clear majority of Americans branding his return a failure and accusing him of focusing on the wrong priorities.
Bleak Poll Numbers as Midterms Loom
The latest SSRS survey for CNN, conducted in January 2026, makes for dire reading for the president at the outset of a crucial midterm election year. Fifty-eight percent of respondents stated they consider his record since returning to power unsatisfactory, framing it as a failure. Only 36 percent believed he was pursuing the right issues, a significant drop from 45 percent a year ago.
Economic concerns are paramount for the public, and here the judgement is particularly harsh. Fifty-five percent of those polled said they believe Trump's policies have made the economy worse, compared to just 32 percent who felt they had spurred improvement. This is widely seen as a rebuke of his controversial reciprocal tariffs policy. Furthermore, a huge 64 percent said he has not done enough to bring down the cost of living, a key pledge from his 2024 campaign. Notably, even 42 percent of Republican voters agreed more action was needed to lower prices.
Widespread Disapproval Across Key Policy Areas
The poll identified several areas where the public feels the president has made matters worse. These include:
- His attempts at international peacemaking (47% disapproved).
- Bolstering law and order in American cities (42%).
- Stopping the weaponization of the Department of Justice (41%).
- Restoring free speech (41%).
A majority also felt Trump had overstepped his authority. Sixty-two percent objected to his attempts to change the cultural makeup of institutions like the Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian, while 58 percent said he had abused executive power. Another 57 percent criticised him for cutting too many government programmes.
Eroding Personal Image and Coalition Concerns
The survey revealed a significant shift in how Americans perceive Trump personally. Just one in three now believe he cares about people like them, down from 40 percent in March 2025. Only 37 percent see him as putting the country above his own gain, and a mere 32 percent think he understands the problems facing average Americans.
Concerns about his fitness for office are also prevalent, with fewer than half believing the 79-year-old has the stamina and sharpness to serve effectively. His overall job approval rating stands at just 39 percent. Crucially, support has tumbled among independents (29%) and in two key demographics that helped him win in 2024: people under 35 and Latino voters, whose approval has fallen from 41 percent to 30 percent.
While he retains the support of nearly 90 percent of Republicans, the erosion of his broader coalition is a major concern for his re-election prospects. The poll also touched on immigration, finding that 52 percent now consider his deportation push as having gone too far, up from 45 percent in February 2025. This follows the fatal shooting of mother-of-three Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis on January 7th, an incident which more than half of respondents saw as an inappropriate use of force.
