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Economic pain and political fallout have become hallmarks of President Donald Trump’s second term, according to a new Fox News national survey that reveals deepening dissatisfaction among American voters—including the president’s core supporters.
The poll, conducted from November 14-17, 2025, paints a stark picture of an economy that most Americans view negatively, with disapproval ratings reaching record highs for the administration among key demographic groups.
An overwhelming 76% of voters now view the economy negatively—worse than the 67% who felt that way in July and the 70% who expressed similar sentiments at the end of former President Biden’s term. This pessimism comes as Americans report rising costs across essential categories: 85% say grocery prices have increased, with 60% reporting costs have risen “a lot.” Majorities also report higher costs for utilities (78%), healthcare (67%), housing (66%), and gasoline (54%).
These economic concerns have translated directly into political liabilities for the president. Twice as many voters hold Trump responsible for the current economy rather than Biden, and three times as many say Trump’s economic policies have hurt rather than helped them. This represents a significant reversal from Trump’s first term, when only 21% overall said his policies had harmed them financially.
The president’s approval ratings have suffered accordingly. Just 41% of voters approve of Trump’s job performance, while 58% disapprove—approaching his lowest-ever rating of 38% approval from October 2017. Even among Republicans, approval has declined from 92% in March to 86% today. By comparison, Biden’s approval stood slightly higher (44%) at the same point in his presidency.
Particularly troubling for the White House are the record-high disapproval rates among demographic groups that formed the backbone of Trump’s electoral coalition: men, white voters, and those without college degrees. Personal financial assessments remain grim, with 60% rating their finances as “only fair/poor,” rising to 79% among households earning less than $50,000 annually.
The recent government shutdown has only exacerbated these challenges. While 54% of Americans report the shutdown caused no hardship for their families, 10% experienced severe hardship and 35% moderate difficulties. The political fallout spread across Washington, with nearly two-thirds disapproving of how Trump (62%), Congressional Republicans (63%), and Congressional Democrats (64%) handled the situation.
This dissatisfaction has damaged the favorability ratings of both parties. The Republican Party’s favorability dropped to 39%, down from 44% in July, while the Democratic Party fell to a record-low 39% from 42%. Trump’s personal favorability declined to 40%, down from 43% in September and 50% in January.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer saw the steepest decline, with a record-low favorability of 22% against 54% unfavorable—a net rating of negative 32 points, compared to negative 16 points in January. Among Democrats, positive views of Schumer plummeted from 51% to 38%.
On policy issues, voters indicate a mixed partisan preference. Republicans are seen as having better plans for border security, immigration, crime reduction, and deficit reduction. Democrats hold advantages on climate change, healthcare costs, wage increases, and overall affordability. The parties appear evenly matched on job creation.
Despite the economic headwinds, Trump receives his highest approval on border security (53%), with nearly half approving his handling of immigration (46%). His ratings on the economy have hit a new low (38%), with even worse marks on tariffs (35%) and healthcare (34%).
The administration’s foreign policy efforts show mixed results in public opinion. While Trump’s overall foreign policy approval stands underwater at 43% approve versus 55% disapprove, voters are evenly split on whether his recent peace deals will make the world safer or less safe (37% each). Similarly divided views emerge on the administration’s controversial strategy of using military force against suspected drug trafficking vessels from Venezuela, with 49% in favor and 47% opposed.
“The situation isn’t complicated,” says Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who co-directs the Fox News Poll. “People are struggling to afford necessities and blaming those in charge. What’s interesting is watching Democrats gain politically from a problem they arguably caused—and that crushed them in 2024. But that’s politics.”
The survey, which included 1,005 registered voters, has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points.
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10 Comments
Voters’ perception of the economy seems to be a major liability for the president. The high disapproval ratings and attribution of blame to the current administration’s policies are concerning.
This poll highlights the challenging economic environment and the political fallout the administration is facing. Voters appear to be losing faith in the government’s ability to manage the economy effectively.
The high disapproval ratings and attribution of blame to the current administration’s policies are quite striking. This poll underscores the economic challenges and political liabilities the president is facing.
It’s interesting to see the stark contrast between voter perceptions of the economy under the current president versus the previous one. This data could have significant implications for the political landscape.
The data in this poll paints a bleak picture for the administration. Voters clearly feel the current policies are hurting the economy more than helping. This could have significant implications for the next election cycle.
The economic pain and political fallout seem to be weighing heavily on the current administration. Voters appear increasingly dissatisfied with the president’s policies and their impact on the economy.
It’s concerning to see such high disapproval ratings for the economy and rising costs across essential categories. Voters seem to be holding the current president more responsible than the previous one.
I agree, these economic trends are quite worrying. It will be interesting to see how this affects the political landscape going forward.
The findings in this poll suggest a growing disconnect between the White House’s policies and the everyday economic realities faced by American voters. This could spell trouble for the president’s political future.
This poll paints a concerning picture of the economy and the public’s dissatisfaction with the current administration’s policies. The political fallout could be significant, depending on how the White House responds.