The Economy Comes First But Is Trump Delivering?

In a year of intense political division, one point of agreement remains remarkably consistent: the economy is the issue that matters most. According to our latest poll, nearly half of Americans (49%) cite “the economy and inflation” as the most important issue facing the country, far outpacing immigration (17%), healthcare (13%) and every other concern.

This consensus spans gender, age and political affiliation. It is the top concern for 46% of men and 51% of women and it ranks first across all age groups, from 44% of 18–24-year-olds to 50% of those aged 55–64. Even among voters divided over everything else, economic anxiety unites: 48% of Trump voters, 49% of Harris voters and 51% of non-voters agree the economy is the top issue.

Is Trump Winning the Economic Argument?

Faced with this pressure, how is the Trump administration performing on the economy? Public perception is mixed. Just 19% say Trump is handling the economy “very well”, with another 23% saying he’s doing “fairly well”. That gives the president a combined 42% positive rating on the issue.

Meanwhile, a majority of 33% say he is handling the economy “very poorly” and another 10% rate him as doing “fairly poorly”. Meaning Trump is viewed more negatively than positively overall, even as most voters recognise that he is focusing on the economy.

The perception gap is clear: voters agree Trump is prioritising their top concern but many still question whether that focus is producing results.

Partisan Divides and Generational Frustration

Approval of Trump’s economic performance breaks sharply along party lines. Among Trump voters, 76% think he’s doing well (37% “very well”, 39% “fairly well”), while among Harris voters, just 4% say the same and a striking 65% say he’s doing “very poorly”.

Age is another dividing line. Young voters aged 18–24 are more evenly split, with 20% saying Trump is doing “very well”, 22% saying “fairly well” and a third (33%) saying “very poorly”. Among older Americans, particularly those 65 and over, support is more polarised, 41% rate his performance “very poorly” but 38% still say he’s doing well.

These numbers reflect the broader polarisation of the Trump era. Even as the White House positions itself as the guardian of economic revival, emphasising deregulation, industrial reshoring and Musk-led government streamlining through the DOGE initiative, a large proportion of the electorate remain unconvinced.

Beyond the Economy: Secondary Priorities Emerge

While the economy dominates, immigration (17%) stands out as a top secondary issue, especially among Trump voters (28%), young voters aged 18–24 (20%) and men (19%). Healthcare ranks highest among younger voters and women, with 14% of women naming it as their top concern. Crime and climate change remain lower-tier issues overall.

Economic Trust vs. Economic Pain

Perhaps the most revealing insight is the distinction between recognition and approval. A majority of voters believe Trump is prioritising the economy but that doesn’t mean they believe he’s succeeding. Many Americans continue to feel the strain of high prices, housing shortages and an uneven job market.

For now, the economy remains Trump’s battlefield. Whether voters believe he’s winning there will likely decide the fate of his second term.

Download the data tables for this poll.