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By Anna Commander
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A majority of Americans say President Donald Trump has not paid attention to the issues that matter most to them, according to a new poll from The Economist/YouGov released Tuesday, as the president promoted a new Republican midterm convention aimed at energizing GOP supporters ahead of the 2026 elections.
On Tuesday, Trump announced on Truth Social that Republicans will hold what he called the party's first-ever national midterm convention in Dallas on September 9 and 10. He described the gathering as a "truly Historic Event" celebrating the "Great American Comeback" and said it would showcase achievements under the America First agenda, while promising "lots of Great Entertainment" and "a RALLY like none other!"
Meanwhile, the survey released on Tuesday found that 60 percent of respondents believe Trump "hasn't paid attention to the most important problems" facing the country, underscoring persistent concerns about his priorities as his administration pushes ahead with a slate of initiatives, including foreign affairs decisions amid turmoil with Iran and as the country prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary.
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The findings come as Trump has drawn criticism this week for seemingly dismissing the nation's housing bill. Speaking to reporters Monday, the president brushed aside legislation aimed at addressing soaring housing costs, calling it "a big yawn."
Texas Democratic Congresswoman Julie Johnson took a swipe at the president on social media on Tuesday, saying in part on X, "While Trump obsesses over clinging to power, I’m focused on addressing the housing crisis and lowering your costs."
Trump also said he had not decided whether he would sign the bill: "I don't know. I think it's so unimportant compared to the SAVE America Act."
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The remark came as home prices remain a major concern for many Americans, as housing prices are placing increasing financial pressure on families across the country.
White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in a statement to Newsweek on Tuesday when asked about the poll, "President Trump remains laser-focused on lowering costs for working families, keeping the American people safe, and making this country greater than ever before — including the long-overdue beautification of our nation’s capital. The President has clearly prioritized making homeownership affordable again through executive actions like prohibiting Wall Street firms from buying up single-family homes, cutting costly red tape, and speeding up construction to lower costs.”
What The Poll Shows
According to the poll, 60 percent say the president has not focused on the most important problems plaguing the country, compared to 29 percent who say he has had the right priorities. The survey shows that 11 percent are not sure.
When asked by the pollster what issue is most important, 30 percent said inflation/prices, 15 percent said jobs and the economy, and 9 percent said health care. There were numerous other choices, all landing in single digits. In a poll taken last week, the top issues were inflation/prices, jobs and the economy, and health care and immigration were tied for third.
Tuesday's poll surveyed 1,606 U.S. adults from June 26 to June 29, 2026, and has a margin of error of 3.2 percent.
According to the new survey, 28 percent say the country is generally headed in the right direction, compared to 61 percent who say it is on the wrong track and 11 percent who are not sure. The number is a slight dip from last week, when 31 percent said the country was generally headed in the right direction.
Taken together, the poll results and Trump's recent remarks could provide fresh ammunition for critics who argue the president is not focused on the everyday concerns of voters.
With six in 10 Americans saying he has failed to pay attention to the country's most important problems, the survey suggests questions over Trump's priorities remain a potential political vulnerability even as the White House continues to highlight its broader economic agenda.
Trump "Not Even a Little Bit" Thinking of Americans' Finances
Trump also faced recent backlash after saying he does not spend time thinking about Americans' personal financial situations when he's negotiating with Iran on a potential deal.
"Not even a little bit," the president said. "The only thing that matters when I'm talking about Iran, they can't have a nuclear weapon. I don't think about Americans' financial situations, I don't think about anybody, I think about one thing, we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That's all," Trump added while speaking with reporters last month.
Democrats seized on the comments as evidence that the president is out of touch with the day-to-day struggles of working families grappling with the cost of housing, groceries, gas and other essentials.
In response to the Democratic backlash, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung previously told Newsweek via email, "The President’s ultimate responsibility is the safety and security of Americans. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and if action wasn’t taken, they’d have one, which threatens all Americans."
Trump's Push to Beautify Washington
At the same time, Trump has devoted significant attention to a series of projects aimed at reshaping Washington, D.C., including efforts to beautify parts of the nation's capital.
Those initiatives—including changes around the White House and other landmarks, including the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool—have prompted legal challenges and criticism from opponents, who argue the administration is prioritizing symbolic projects over economic issues affecting households nationwide.
Trump has faced recent scrutiny over algae blooms and more afflicting the Reflecting Pool, issues that administration officials have linked to acts of vandalism.
In a post to Truth Social on Sunday, Trump said the pool now looks "beautiful" and warned potential vandals they could get up to 10 years in jail for attacks on monuments.
Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal is also pressing the Trump administration and alleged contractors involved in the Reflecting Pool renovation for answers amid ongoing problems with the project. Blumenthal has raised concerns about potential contracts awarded to firms with alleged ties to Trump and whether the contractors were qualified for the work.
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Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Gray R. Thomas
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