Five Polls Expose Trump’s Fading Support and Economic Failures Heading Into 2026

President Donald Trump begins 2026 under a cloud of unhappy polls that cut across his coalition. Recent surveys show trouble among the working class, sliding support in the middle class, and rising doubts about his leadership and the economy.

A late December YouGov and Economist poll found Trump’s approval at just 31% among people who earn $50,000 or less. That same tracker puts his net approval deeply underwater, and only a small share in that group says the country is headed the right way.

Support also slipped among middle income voters. People earning between $50,000 and $100,000 now give him lower marks than they did a few months ago, a sign his appeal is fading where it once held steady.

A survey by GQR for The Century Foundation offers another warning. It found that many voters who backed Trump in 2024 now say the economy is not doing well and that affordability is biting households in real ways.

That includes people who report skipping meals or delaying medical care because of cost. The findings show economic strain is not just a talking point. It is changing how voters live and how they view leaders who promised relief.

Foreign policy is also a weak spot. A Quinnipiac poll in December found broad, bipartisan opposition to U.S. military action in Venezuela, a position that clashes with elements of the White House approach to the region.

Voters cited caution about military moves and worry about the risks of deeper involvement abroad. The split over force underlines how foreign policy can quickly become a political liability when the public senses overreach.

Another core measure is Trump’s image as a strong leader. Gallup polling shows the share of people who call him strong and decisive has slipped, falling back to levels far below his first term peak.

That shift matters because personal image often drives voter choices when issues are close. If fewer people see him as the steady hand he claims to be, persuading undecided voters will be harder.

Mr Trump pushed back on the polls on social media. He posted: “The polls are rigged even more than the writers. The real number is 64 percent, and why not, our Country is ‘hotter’ than ever before. Isn’t it nice to have a STRONG BORDER, No Inflation, a powerful Military, and great Economy??? Happy New Year!”

On the other side, economists and advocates say the public is naming real pain. “People are telling us in all kinds of ways the financial pain they’re feeling in their lives. “You can downplay it, but it doesn’t change how people are experiencing the economy.” That was Angela Hanks of the Century Foundation.

Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren put it bluntly. She said, “This evidence suggests the real ‘con job’ was Donald Trump’s promise to lower costs on ‘day one.’ Working people are skipping meals, delaying medical care and falling behind on their utility bills while Trump focuses on building a golden ballroom for himself and his corporate donors.”

The White House has defended the record and pointed to recent gains. A spokesman said the administration has taken action to reduce inflation and boost wages. “President Trump inherited the worst inflation crisis in a generation from Joe Biden’s incompetence, and his administration has rapidly cooled inflation to a 2.5% annualized rate. Americans can count on inflation continuing to fall and real wages continuing to rise.”

Featured image via YouTube screengrab