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By Suzanne Blake
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President Donald Trump’s approval rating on the economy has fallen to the lowest level among 21st‑century presidents, according to CNN’s chief data analyst Harry Enten.
Enten described the numbers as historically bad during a recent on‑air breakdown of new polling data.
“New numbers out from CBS News,” Enten said during his Sunday segment on CNN Newsroom. “If I were in the White House, only one word to describe them: Yikes!”
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“I mean, just take a look here. Trump will, or is, making you financially worse off or better off—if you go back to just before Trump was reelected to a second term, the plurality said better off at 44 percent. That number has fallen through the floor. Now we’re talking just 18 percent! Just 18 percent say Trump’s policies are making them better off."
Why It Matters
The economy has long been one of Trump’s strongest political issues, making his latest polling especially notable.
Approval ratings on economic performance are often closely tied to voter behavior in congressional and presidential elections, particularly among independents. And while Trump is not up for reelection to the presidency, negative approval ratings could have major implications for Republicans staying in power in Congress.
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What To Know
Enten said the new polling released by CBS News shows a sharp reversal in how Americans view Trump’s economic leadership compared with earlier in his second term. He said the latest figures were “last in the pack” when measured against other modern presidents at a similar point in office.
“Ultimately, this puts Trump in company—historic company—You don’t want to be,” Enten said. “He’s the leader of the pack or last in the pack when it comes to 21st century presidents and how Americans are viewing him on the economy, at least among independents.”
The survey results revealed that only 18 percent of Americans say Trump’s policies are making them financially better off, a steep drop from 44 percent just before his reelection.
At the same time, 53 percent of respondents said Trump’s policies are making them worse off financially, up from 38 percent in October 2024, according to the same polling.
The data appeared even more troubling for Trump among independent voters, who are often seen as decisive in national elections.
Enten said 60 percent of independents now believe Trump’s policies are making them worse off financially, while just 13 percent say they are better off, a swing of nearly 50 points compared with polling conducted before his reelection.
“That’s a nearly 50‑point switcheroo,” Enten said.
According to the CBS News data cited on CNN, Trump’s net approval rating on the economy among independents is 48 points underwater, meaning far more disapprove than approve of his handling of the issue.
That figure is twice as bad as former President Barack Obama’s economic approval at a comparable point in his presidency and worse than George W. Bush’s at the same stage, Enten said.
However, Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of MichaelRyanMoney.com, told Newsweek he is surprised that Trump’s polling numbers hadn’t fallen more.
"But here's what's actually striking to me. That it hasn't fallen even further.
“Everything with him is overpromise, underdeliver,” Ryan said. “He ran on lowering prices, restoring economic confidence, and stability. What voters see instead is war risk, sticky living costs, tariff uncertainty, and an oil shock pushing up gas prices right when households were already unhappy about the cost of everything.”
Compared to his first term from 2016 to 2020, Trump benefited from a pre-pandemic environment, Ryan said.
“Lower gas prices, calmer geopolitics, stronger consumer backdrop. Voters associated him with economic strength even if they disliked him personally,” Ryan said. “Now? He owns the economy directly. And more voters blame his administration than [Joe] Biden's. That means the blame sticks faster.”
Despite his deteriorating numbers, Trump has dismissed the importance of approval ratings, saying he does not care about polling and is focused instead on doing “the right thing.”
"I think that the polling is very good, but I don’t care about polling. I have to do the right thing. This should have been done a long time ago,” Trump told The New York Times regarding his approval ratings as it concerns the war with Iran.
What People Are Saying
Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: “The reality is simple: roughly half the country was never going to support him, and now the other half is starting to fracture. A lot of promises haven’t materialized; whether it’s the so-called ‘DOGE dividend,’ tariff refunds, lower energy prices, or a meaningful reduction in inflation. On top of that, the U.S. is now involved in a conflict that many of his core supporters never wanted. That disconnect is starting to show.”
Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of MichaelRyanMoney.com, told Newsweek: “Voters don't care about macro talking points. They care about prices, paychecks, and whether they feel richer or poorer.”
Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: “For millions of Americans, the rise in gas prices could be the economic tipping point that starts to dramatically shift polling numbers. Affordability has been the issue at the forefront of many minds in recent years, as inflationary pressures have tested the budgets of many households to their absolute limits.”
What Happens Next
The recent polling could spell trouble for Republicans heading into upcoming midterm elections.
“Look, these are numbers that if I were a Republican running for Congress, I would be shaking in place because there’s really nowhere to hide,” Enten said.
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