A new poll conducted by CNN following President Donald Trump's State of the Union address has revealed a significant lack of public confidence in his ability to lower everyday prices, with less than a third of viewers expressing strong belief in his plans to address cost-of-living concerns.
Public Skepticism on Economic Promises
The survey, taken after Trump's record-length sixth address to Congress, found that only 31 percent of those who watched the speech reported having 'a lot' of confidence that the president would make living costs more affordable. This comes despite Trump's sweeping claims about economic transformation during his lengthy oration.
Mixed Reactions to the Address
While the speech pleased Republican audiences to some extent, with nearly two-thirds of GOP-leaning viewers reporting at least a 'somewhat positive' reaction, only 38 percent described their reaction as 'very positive'. This represents a notable decline from the previous year, when nearly 70 percent reported at least somewhat positive reactions to Trump's congressional address.
Perhaps more tellingly, 45 percent of viewers felt Trump spent too little time addressing high living costs during his speech, though a bare majority of 53 percent gave him credit for focusing the 'right amount' on these issues.
Dismal Approval Ratings Unmoved
The State of the Union address appears to have done little to improve Trump's struggling approval ratings. Recent polling shows only 36 percent of Americans approve of his performance as president, representing a significant 12-point drop from the 48 percent approval rating he enjoyed when he last addressed Congress.
Key Demographic Shifts
The polling reveals troubling trends for Trump among crucial voter groups:
- Independent voters who supported Trump and Vice President JD Vance in 2024 have largely abandoned the president, with only 26 percent now indicating approval of his performance
- Latino voter approval has plummeted from 41 percent last year to just 22 percent currently
- On economic issues specifically, 57 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of the economy
Contrasting Rhetoric and Reality
During his Tuesday address, Trump opened with bold claims about national prosperity, stating that the country is 'bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever before' after his first year back in the White House. He boasted of achieving 'a transformation like no one has ever seen before' and claimed to have solved the problems that led to his re-election.
'Inflation is plummeting, incomes are rising fast, the economy is roaring like never before,' Trump declared as Republican lawmakers applauded his claims about gasoline prices, mortgage rates, and $18 trillion in foreign investment since his inauguration last January.
Political Blame Game
Simultaneously, Trump mocked Democratic focus on 'affordability,' calling it 'a word they just used' that 'somebody' had 'given to them.' He blamed the opposition for having 'created the high prices' that persist a year into his second term, despite his claims of economic transformation.
Broader Public Doubts
The CNN poll released Monday found that 61 percent of Americans believe Trump's policies will send the country in the wrong direction. Separate polling from ABC News and The Washington Post shows even higher disapproval on specific economic issues, with 65 percent disapproving of Trump's handling of inflation and 64 percent disapproving of his tariff policies.
With 250 days remaining until the midterm elections, these poll results suggest significant public skepticism about whether Trump's policy initiatives are effectively addressing the problems he was re-elected to tackle, particularly regarding everyday affordability concerns that continue to burden American households.
