Voters express frustration with Trump’s handling of economy, NBC News poll shows

A recent NBC News poll showed growing frustration among Americans regarding President Donald Trump’s handling of the economy less than a year after entering office.

In a poll of 1,000 voters taken between Oct. 25-28, 63% said Trump had fallen short of expectations regarding the economy.

Separately, 65% said Trump had fallen short of looking out for the middle class, and 66% expressed the same sentiment for the handling of inflation and the cost of living.

Trump’s overall approval rating in the poll has fallen 4 points to 43% since March, while 55% disapprove of the president’s job performance.

The negativity appears to be bleeding into voters’ feelings of dissatisfaction with Republican lawmakers. With just a year to go before the 2026 midterm elections, Democrats are favored to win control of Congress by an 8-point margin, 50% to 42%, among those polled. Democrats led by just one point, 48% to 47%, in the March survey.

The results come as the government shutdown has stretched past a month, affecting critical government programs, including SNAP food benefits.

The NBC News poll also indicated that voters are split on which party would have a better handle on the economy.

According to the poll, 38% of voters found Republicans would do a better job, while 37% found Democrats would be more effective.

This follows a recent CNBC All-America Economic Survey, which showed views on the U.S. economy turned more negative.

See the complete NBC News poll here.