CBS Poll Shows Americans Frustrated with Trump's Economic Approach
CBS poll shows 7 in 10 Americans frustrated with Trump's economic approach as inflation and gas prices climb.
Objective Facts
A CBS News/YouGov survey conducted May 13-15, 2026 with 2,064 U.S. adults found that most Americans describe their feelings about the administration's economic approach as either 'frustrated' or 'angry'. Two-thirds of the country say the president's policies are making the economy worse, at least in the short term, and three-quarters say incomes aren't keeping up with inflation. Even among Republicans, his ratings for handling inflation have been declining, especially since the Iran conflict and rise in oil prices. Neither party is seen by a majority as helping with the cost of living, though voters give the relative edge to Democrats, reflecting broader frustration with both parties' economic approaches.
Left-Leaning Perspective
Left-leaning outlets like CNBC have highlighted that President Trump is not making the U.S. economy enough of a priority, and when he does bring it up, his words often don't reflect the reality many Americans are feeling—he recently said gas prices are 'not very high' when they are 27% higher than a year earlier. Trump has been dismissive of a sharp rise in gas prices that resulted from the war he and Israel launched against Iran. The Center for American Progress has argued that since the Trump administration joined Israel in starting a war with Iran on February 28, oil prices have skyrocketed with gasoline prices rising 22 percent, putting pressure on everyday Americans at a time when polls show only 29 percent can afford basics like rent, gasoline, and groceries without worry. Senator Elizabeth Warren's office framed the issue around bread-and-butter economics, with Warren's statement concluding 'it is essential that Trump Administration officials rely on accurate information as they advise the President on his economic agenda, which is hurting families, farmers, and businesses,' while her January report highlighted how American families paid $2,120 more in 2025 because of inflation under Trump, driven in part by the president's tariffs. Democratic strategist Mike Nellis and other commentators argue the core issue is voter sentiment, with Nellis telling CNBC 'the American voter is pissed about the economy,' noting that Trump was elected on the promise to wrangle Biden-era inflation and bring down high prices, and 'that hasn't happened'. The left's argument centers on the gap between Trump's promises and results, and the perception that his foreign policy decisions (the Iran war) have actively undermined rather than supported his economic agenda. Left-leaning coverage downplays or omits the possibility that some of Trump's policies (deregulation, tax relief) could have longer-term positive effects, and largely attributes all current inflation and cost-of-living pressures to Trump's recent decisions rather than acknowledging the structural inflation that began under Biden.
Right-Leaning Perspective
The White House and administration allies argue that polling and media coverage misrepresent Trump's economic record. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle argued that current polling should be viewed in the context of Trump's 2024 election victory, which he described as the clearest expression of public support, stating 'The ultimate poll was November 5th 2024 when nearly 80 million Americans overwhelmingly elected President Trump to deliver on his popular and commonsense agenda'. Ingle said the White House remains focused on jobs, inflation and housing affordability, and framed the president's economic record as historically significant, asserting 'No other President in history has accomplished more for the American people than President Trump, who is working tirelessly to create jobs, cool inflation, increase housing affordability, and more'. The White House website presents Trump's pro-growth agenda as having delivered strong economic momentum through tax relief, deregulation, and renewed private-sector investment, claiming that in 2025, inflation moderated, job creation accelerated, and consumer confidence rebounded as businesses expanded and wages rose. An unnamed Republican operative, quoted in CNBC reporting, acknowledged 'Maybe [the economy] is an issue where we slipped a little bit' but expressed confidence that 'there's going to be a gazillion news cycles from now until Election Day, where I don't think gas prices are going to be much of a point of concern anymore'. Right-leaning coverage largely omits or downplays the role of Trump's policies (tariffs, the Iran war) in driving inflation, instead framing current economic challenges as temporary or inherited from the Biden administration, and emphasizing that structural reforms will pay dividends over time.
Deep Dive
When Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, 50% of Americans somewhat or strongly approved of his handling of the economy; by Liberation Day when Trump imposed global tariffs in April 2025, only 40% of Americans approved, according to polling. This 10-point drop in just four months reflects the speed of deterioration even before the Iran conflict accelerated inflation. The CBS poll's core finding—that 70% of Americans are frustrated or angry with Trump's economic approach—reflects a structural shift in the political landscape on the economy. Democrats now lead on several economic issues, including cost of living and helping the middle class, reversing a Republican advantage during the Biden years, and weakening confidence on the economy threatens to undercut a core pillar of Trump's political coalition and could have knock-on effects in key congressional races. The left correctly identifies that Trump's key campaign promise—to control inflation and lower costs—remains unfulfilled. However, the right is not entirely wrong that some inflation was inherited from Biden's term and that certain policies (deregulation, the supply-chain focus) could take time to show benefits. The real disagreement is whether the Iran war was necessary and whether tariffs can be justified given their inflationary impact. People don't feel clarity on what's happening in Iran or day to day in the Strait of Hormuz as gas prices weigh on them, and with Iran conflict impacting gas prices, most Americans feel they aren't getting a clear understanding of what's happening in the strait. This suggests a secondary failure: even on the foreign policy issue driving inflation, the administration has not successfully explained its strategy or communicated a pathway to resolution. The economy will likely remain the dominant issue heading into the midterms, and Trump's overall approval has ticked down to its lowest level of his second term, making a turnaround before November contingent on either economic improvement or a major geopolitical shift.