## Cashing Out? Americans Give Trump’s Economy a Thumbs Down in New CNN Poll
The economic boom? The jobs report? The roaring markets? Maybe it’s all just smoke and mirrors. A new CNN poll throws cold water on the Trump administration’s claims of a stellar economy, revealing a stark reality: Americans are increasingly skeptical about the president’s economic leadership.
Demographic Shifts: Trump’s Support Fades Among Key Groups
Americans are not impressed with President Donald Trump’s stewardship of the economy, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS, putting him underwater on the nation’s top issue even as he sees ratings among the best of his presidential career on other key priorities.
Trump’s support appears to be fading among some traditionally Democratic-leaning demographic groups with whom he made inroads in last year’s election. A January CNN poll found that 57% of 18-34-year-olds, 50% of Hispanic adults, and 30% of Black adults approved of the way he was handling the presidential transition.
Now that Trump has taken office, his approval ratings with those groups stand at 41% among younger and Hispanic adults and 23% among Black adults. Hispanic and Black adults are notably more likely than Whites to also say that Trump has handled the presidency in a way they did not expect (35% among Hispanic adults and 30% among Black adults compared with 20% among White adults), and to see that as a bad thing (29% among Hispanic people and 24% among Black people vs. 16% among White people).
Presidential Power and Government Reform
Wariness of Trump’s Push for Power
About half of all Americans feel that Trump has overstepped in using the power of the presidency and the executive branch (52% say he has gone too far in doing so, 39% that he’s been about right and 8% that he hasn’t gone far enough).
Broad majorities of Democrats (87%) and independents (57%) see him as going too far in using the presidency’s powers. Republicans largely disagree but few of Trump’s own partisans are clamoring for him to go further than he has already: 75% say his use of presidential power has been about right, 11% think he’s gone too far, and 13% that he hasn’t gone far enough.
Skepticism About Government Cuts and Elon Musk’s Role
Sizable shares are skeptical about his efforts to trim government programs and shut down federal agencies. About half (48%) say he’s gone too far in changing the way the US government works, with 32% saying his approach has been about right and 8% that he hasn’t gone far enough.
Roughly 6 in 10 Americans say that Musk has neither the right experience nor the right judgment to make changes to the way the government works. There is uneasiness about Musk even among some of the president’s supporters: 28% of those who see Trump’s changes to the government as necessary doubt the tech billionaire has the judgment to carry them out.
Implications for Governance: A Break from Historical Precedent
There’s overwhelming agreement across party lines that Trump is taking a completely different approach to presidential power in comparison to past presidents, with 49% calling this a bad thing and 37% saying it’s a good thing.
Just 14% say his approach to his second term has been generally in line with past presidents’. Economic concerns continue to dominate, the poll finds, with 42% of Americans choosing the economy as their top issue from a list of seven – more than doubling the share who picked any other issue, including the state of US democracy (19%), the way the federal government works (14%), immigration (12%), health care (6%), foreign policy (3%) or climate change (2%).
Looking Ahead: Emotional Reactions and Expectations
Mixed Emotions: Fear, Enthusiasm, and Uncertainty
Americans’ emotional reactions as they look ahead to a second Trump term are mixed. Overall, slightly more people express a positive feeling (52%) than a negative one (48%), but the share who say they are afraid (29%) outpaces the share who are enthusiastic (19%).
Majorities overall express at least some confidence in Trump across seven different issue areas and presidential actions tested in the poll. His strongest marks come on dealing with the economy (with 39% expressing a lot of confidence in him), immigration policy (39%), and the war between Russia and Ukraine (37%).
Expectations for Change: Will Trump Deliver?
Americans’ expectations for change under Trump’s second term are mixed. A 54% majority expect Trump to do a good job upon his return to the White House next month, and a majority approves of how he’s handling the presidential transition so far (55%).
Expectations that Trump will bring change for the better are higher (48% say so now, up from 43% in November 2016), but the shares saying that he’ll bring change for the worse (20% now vs. 21% in 2016) or no change at all (31% now vs. 32% in 2016) are nearly identical to where they stood eight years ago.
Conclusion
A Divided Nation: The Economic Legacy of Trump’s Presidency
In a recent CNN poll, Americans have spoken out on their sentiments regarding former President Donald Trump’s handling of the economy, and the results are telling. The survey reveals a stark contrast between Trump supporters and detractors, with a significant majority of Americans expressing dissatisfaction with his economic policies. The poll highlights the persistent economic concerns of the nation, including high inflation, stagnant wages, and a widening wealth gap. Furthermore, the findings underscore the deep-seated partisan divide that has come to define American politics, with Trump’s base remaining steadfast in their support for his economic agenda despite the overwhelming criticism from the opposing side.
The significance of this poll cannot be overstated, as it serves as a barometer for the nation’s economic sentiment and a referendum on Trump’s economic legacy. The implications are far-reaching, with potential consequences for the future of American politics and the economy. As the country continues to grapple with the aftermath of the pandemic and the ongoing impact of climate change, the need for effective economic leadership has never been more pressing. The CNN poll serves as a wake-up call for policymakers, warning them that the American people demand more from their leaders and expect meaningful solutions to the economic challenges facing the nation.
