Most U.S. adults hold President Donald Trump responsible for higher-than-usual prices, and about 7 in 10 say he has handled the cost of living worse than they expected, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
About two-thirds, 65%, say the elevated prices are a result of Trump’s policies. The disappointment reaches into his own party: 52% of Republicans say his handling of the cost of living has fallen short of their expectations.
Republicans still give him some cover on prices
Republicans largely do not blame the president for what they pay. About two-thirds of Republicans, 67%, say higher prices are driven by factors beyond his control.
The partisan split mirrors one seen under his predecessor. In an AP-NORC poll in October 2022, 44% of adults blamed then-President Joe Biden’s policies for higher prices, while 87% of Democrats said prices were beyond his control.
Gloomy views of the economy and the country
More than half of adults say the country as a whole, the national economy and their local economy have gotten worse since Trump’s reelection. Closer to home, 46% say they and their families are worse off since his second administration began.
About 7 in 10 Americans, 73%, think the country is heading in the wrong direction. That includes nearly all Democrats, 92%, and about half of Republicans, 47%.
Trade and Iran draw disapproval
Trump’s trade agenda gets low marks. About two-thirds, 68%, disapprove of his trade negotiations with other countries, and 58% say his handling of trade has gone worse than expected during his second term. Another 64% say the new tariffs he has imposed on other countries have gone too far.
Views of his handling of Iran are similarly negative. About 7 in 10 adults, 71%, disapprove of his approach, and 69% say the war in Iran has not been worth fighting.
Immigration remains a relative strength
Immigration stands out as somewhat stronger ground for the president. Trump’s approval on the issue is steady at 39%. While about half, 48%, say his handling of immigration has been worse than expected, about one-quarter, 23%, say it has been better.
Canada slips as a close ally
Americans’ view of Canada has shifted sharply. Only about one-quarter, 26%, now consider the neighboring country a close U.S. ally. That is down from 45% in March 2025 and 62% three years ago.
Another 35% describe the two countries as friendly but not close allies. About 3 in 10, 30%, say relations are not friendly, though the countries are not enemies.
Few say Trump keeps his promises
Only 17% of adults say Trump keeps his promises. That includes just 4% of Democrats and 36% of Republicans.
Among Democrats, 87% say the president does not keep his promises. Nearly half of Republicans, 48%, take a different view, saying he tries but is unable to.
The poll of 2,140 adults was conducted Sept. 24-28 using NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel. Interviews took place online and by telephone, including landlines and cellphones. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 2.9 percentage points, according to the poll’s methodology and topline results.
