16/08/2026
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16/08/2026
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WASHINGTON, Aug 16: More than half of US voters say their financial situation has worsened since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, with the November midterm elections less than three months away, according to a Financial Times poll.
The Focaldata survey found that 53% of registered voters said they were worse off under Trump, including nearly 57% of independents and almost one-quarter of Republicans.
Nearly two-thirds of voters said the US economy was moving in the wrong direction, while only 25% said it was heading in the right direction.
Voters also gave Democrats an advantage over Republicans on inflation, the cost of living, jobs and the economy. Trump’s approval rating on inflation and living costs was particularly weak, with 64% disapproving, including nearly seven in 10 independents and about one-third of Republicans.
Overall, 55% of voters disapproved of Trump’s performance, while his net approval among Republicans fell by eight percentage points from the previous month.
When asked which party they were likely to support in November, 44% backed Democrats compared with 39% for Republicans. Polls have suggested Democrats are in a stronger position to regain control of the House, while winning the Senate would be more difficult.
The findings come as inflation, high prices and weakening consumer sentiment continue to weigh on Americans. Inflation stood at 3.4% in July, while government data showed real wages declined last month.
White House spokesperson Kush Desai defended Trump’s economic record, saying the administration was delivering on its affordability agenda by lowering drug prices, bringing jobs back to the United States and cutting taxes. He also pointed to what he described as a historic decline in violent crime and strengthened border security.
The online poll was conducted by London-based, nonpartisan Focaldata from Aug. 7 to 10 among 1,913 registered voters. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.