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A new national poll shows that seven in ten Americans believe the United States is heading in the wrong direction. The NBC News Decision Desk Poll, powered by SurveyMonkey, found that 71% of U.S. adults say the country is on the “wrong track.” That figure marks the highest level recorded during President Donald Trump’s second term and signals a deeply troubled political environment for Republicans ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
Trump’s Approval Hits Second-Term Low
Trump’s approval rating among U.S. adults dropped to 34%, the lowest point of his second term in this poll. Meanwhile, his disapproval rating climbed to 66%. More strikingly, 51% of respondents said they “strongly disapprove” of his performance. That figure also represents a second-term high.
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Among registered voters, Trump’s approval rating is slightly higher at 39%. However, those same voters said they prefer Democrats over Republicans to control Congress by a 55% to 45% margin. That gap raises serious concerns about Republican majorities in both the House and Senate.
Trump’s support within his own party also showed signs of softening. His approval rating among Republican adults stands at 76%, down from earlier in his term. The decline appears driven largely by Republicans who identify more with the party itself than with the MAGA movement. Among independents, his approval rating sits at just 21%.
Two voter groups that shifted toward Trump in 2024 also show weakening support. Men under 30 — a group Trump won by one point in 2024 exit polling — now give him a 28% approval rating. Among Latino adults, his approval rating stands at 31%.
Economic Anxiety Drives National Discontent
Economic concerns sit at the heart of the country’s sour mood. The economy topped the list of most important issues at 31%. While 18% of Americans said their financial situation improved over the past year, 44% said it has gotten worse and 38% said it stayed about the same.
Inflation, which rose to 3.7% year over year last month, has clearly affected daily life. Two-thirds of respondents — 67% — described gas prices as a “very serious” or “somewhat serious” problem. Majorities also said rising costs forced them to change their grocery shopping habits and cut back on spending to cover basic necessities.
In addition, large shares of respondents said they reduced electricity use, changed or canceled travel plans, or delayed a major purchase because of economic pressure. On the question of Trump’s handling of the cost of living, only 27% of adults approve. His approval on the war with Iran stands at 29%, and on artificial intelligence it reaches 33%. His strongest issue remains border security and immigration, where 43% of adults approve of his handling.
Overall, 58% of adults said Trump’s policies are hurting the country. Only 28% said they are helping, while 14% said they are making no difference.
Skepticism Over $5,000 Payment Promise
Trump has promised $5,000 payments to Americans if Republicans win the 2026 midterms. However, the poll suggests most people are not convinced. Just 14% of U.S. adults said they “definitely” or “probably” expect to receive such a payment if the GOP retains control of Congress. In contrast, 71% said they “definitely” or “probably” will not.
Even among self-identified Republicans, skepticism runs high. Only 28% of Republican respondents said they expect to receive the promised payment. Meanwhile, 47% said they do not believe they will.
Corruption Concerns and Democratic Party Divisions
Corruption emerged as another major concern in the survey. More than half of U.S. adults — 52% — said Trump’s administration is “more corrupt” than previous administrations. About one in four said it is less corrupt, and another one in four said it is roughly comparable to past administrations.
At the same time, 56% of respondents said corruption is equally bad in both parties. Another 25% said it is a bigger problem within the Republican Party, while 17% pointed to Democrats.
Despite Trump’s low approval numbers, Democrats also face unfavorable public opinion. Only 43% of adults view the Democratic Party favorably, while 57% hold an unfavorable view. The Republican Party fares even worse, with 37% viewing it favorably and 63% viewing it unfavorably.
Within the Democratic Party, the poll also found signs of internal tension. When asked to choose between supporting the Democratic Party or the progressive movement, 52% of self-identified Democrats chose the progressive movement and 48% chose the party. Furthermore, 42% of Democratic-leaning adults described themselves as democratic socialists.
On the question of impeachment, the country remains closely divided. If Democrats were to take control of the House, 52% of adults said they should begin impeachment proceedings against Trump. However, 48% said they should not.
The poll also found a shift in how Americans view political experience. One year ago, respondents preferred a political insider over an outsider by a 16-point margin. That gap has now narrowed to just 4 points, suggesting growing frustration with established political figures across both parties.
The NBC News Decision Desk Poll surveyed 19,135 adults online between September 28 and October 12. The poll carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.
