Financial Times: Over Half of US Voters Dissatisfied with Trump's Handling of Inflation and Economy
A recent Financial Times poll indicates that over half of US voters are dissatisfied with President Trump's handling of inflation and the economy, with tariffs and the Iran war negatively impacting Republican prospects in the upcoming midterm elections.
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- 📰 Published: May 11, 2026 at 10:16
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WASHINGTON (CNA) -- More than half of American voters are dissatisfied with President Trump's handling of inflation and the economy, according to a new poll reported by the Financial Times. The findings suggest that tariffs and the war with Iran are impacting the Republican Party's midterm election prospects.
The national poll, conducted last week by data research firm Focaldata, found that inflation and the cost of living are the most pressing issues for voters ahead of the November midterm elections, where control of both the House and Senate will be contested.
A worrying sign for Republicans is that more than half, nearly 58%, of registered voters expressed "strong" or "slight" dissatisfaction with the President's approach to inflation and the cost of living.
Slightly more than 50% said they were dissatisfied with the President's performance on jobs and the economy, while a larger proportion, 55% of voters, stated that Trump's tariffs have harmed the US economy. Only about a quarter of voters believed the President's trade policies have helped the economy.
The release of the Financial Times' new poll comes at a critical time for the Trump administration, just six months before the midterm elections.
The Iran war has led to significant increases in gasoline and other consumer prices, creating a rift within Trump's "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) base; these supporters helped him win the White House in 2024 due to his promises to curb inflation and implement "America First" policies.
Trump recently insisted that oil prices had "fallen significantly." However, the average price in the US last week was approximately $4.60 per gallon, nearly 50% higher than at the start of the war.
According to Reuters, surveys show that American voters facing sharp increases in oil prices are not welcoming the US-Iran war. The US has also received little international support, with NATO allies rejecting calls to send ships to help open the Strait of Hormuz without a comprehensive peace agreement and an internationally authorized mission.
Among voters surveyed by Focaldata this month, over half, about 54%, expressed "strong" or "slight" dissatisfaction with Trump's handling of the Iran war, with less than a third approving.
About one-fifth of Republicans said they were dissatisfied with Trump's handling of the US-Iran war.
The President's poor performance on the economy and the war is reflected in his approval ratings. The poll found that slightly more than 54% of US voters were dissatisfied with Trump's performance as President, while slightly more than 39% approved. Over 58% of independent voters held a negative view of him.
The Financial Times poll shows Democrats leading Republicans by 8 percentage points among all registered voters, and by an even larger margin among independent voters, heading into the midterm elections.
The poll was conducted online by London-based non-partisan research firm Focaldata between May 1 and May 5. It reflects the opinions of 3,167 registered voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.1 percentage points.
Domestically, Trump must fend off attempts by congressional Democrats to force an end to the war through legislation under the War Powers Act.
Senator Jack Reed, a senior Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, stated on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures" program: "Trump's actions have made the situation worse, and now he is struggling to find a way out." (Compiled by Li Peishan) 1150511
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The national poll, conducted last week by data research firm Focaldata, found that inflation and the cost of living are the most pressing issues for voters ahead of the November midterm elections, where control of both the House and Senate will be contested.
A worrying sign for Republicans is that more than half, nearly 58%, of registered voters expressed "strong" or "slight" dissatisfaction with the President's approach to inflation and the cost of living.
Slightly more than 50% said they were dissatisfied with the President's performance on jobs and the economy, while a larger proportion, 55% of voters, stated that Trump's tariffs have harmed the US economy. Only about a quarter of voters believed the President's trade policies have helped the economy.
The release of the Financial Times' new poll comes at a critical time for the Trump administration, just six months before the midterm elections.
The Iran war has led to significant increases in gasoline and other consumer prices, creating a rift within Trump's "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) base; these supporters helped him win the White House in 2024 due to his promises to curb inflation and implement "America First" policies.
Trump recently insisted that oil prices had "fallen significantly." However, the average price in the US last week was approximately $4.60 per gallon, nearly 50% higher than at the start of the war.
According to Reuters, surveys show that American voters facing sharp increases in oil prices are not welcoming the US-Iran war. The US has also received little international support, with NATO allies rejecting calls to send ships to help open the Strait of Hormuz without a comprehensive peace agreement and an internationally authorized mission.
Among voters surveyed by Focaldata this month, over half, about 54%, expressed "strong" or "slight" dissatisfaction with Trump's handling of the Iran war, with less than a third approving.
About one-fifth of Republicans said they were dissatisfied with Trump's handling of the US-Iran war.
The President's poor performance on the economy and the war is reflected in his approval ratings. The poll found that slightly more than 54% of US voters were dissatisfied with Trump's performance as President, while slightly more than 39% approved. Over 58% of independent voters held a negative view of him.
The Financial Times poll shows Democrats leading Republicans by 8 percentage points among all registered voters, and by an even larger margin among independent voters, heading into the midterm elections.
The poll was conducted online by London-based non-partisan research firm Focaldata between May 1 and May 5. It reflects the opinions of 3,167 registered voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.1 percentage points.
Domestically, Trump must fend off attempts by congressional Democrats to force an end to the war through legislation under the War Powers Act.
Senator Jack Reed, a senior Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, stated on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures" program: "Trump's actions have made the situation worse, and now he is struggling to find a way out." (Compiled by Li Peishan) 1150511
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you provide is a force for protecting press freedom.
Download the CNA "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.