Fox News Poll: Voters Give Low Marks To The Economy, Congress, And Trump

A new national survey shows that frustration with Washington is rising sharply as Americans continue to struggle with the cost of living and remain skeptical about the strength of the U.S. economy.

According to a Fox News poll released Wednesday, majorities of voters believe the economy is underperforming, inflation remains a serious problem, and federal leaders are failing to address the country’s most pressing concerns.

Public Discontent With Congress Reaches New Highs

The poll reveals historically low approval ratings for congressional Democrats. A record 70% of voters disapprove of the job they are doing, while only 29% express approval. That figure represents a six-point increase in disapproval since December.

Congressional Republicans are also viewed negatively overall, though their ratings have remained relatively stable. Thirty-six percent of voters approve of Republican leadership in Congress, while 64% disapprove.

The difference between the two parties appears largely tied to internal party unity. Among Republicans, 77% approve of their party’s leaders, reflecting strong support within the party. Democrats show weaker internal cohesion, with 62% approving of their own congressional leadership.

Growing Anger Toward Washington

The poll suggests dissatisfaction with the federal government extends far beyond Congress.

Only 8% of voters say they are enthusiastic about how Washington is functioning, while 26% say they feel satisfied. In contrast, a majority express negative emotions toward the government: 33% describe themselves as dissatisfied and 32% say they feel outright angry.

These levels of emotional intensity are notable. While the overall mood resembles the public sentiment during the first year of former President Joe Biden’s administration in early 2022, two major differences stand out.

First, both the percentage of voters who feel enthusiastic (8%) and those who feel angry (32%) are at record highs.

Second, the partisan distribution of anger has reversed. In 2022, Republicans were more than four times as likely as Democrats to say they felt angry about the government. Today, Democrats are over five times more likely than Republicans to express that same emotion.

Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who conducted the survey alongside Democratic pollster Chris Anderson, noted that anger often plays a powerful role in politics.

According to Shaw, political science research shows that anger can be a stronger motivator for political engagement than emotions like hope or fear. He suggested that rising anger among Democratic voters could help explain why the party has performed well in several special elections and early primaries in 2026.

Economic Anxiety Drives Much of the Frustration

The poll indicates that economic concerns are the primary source of voter dissatisfaction.

Only 30% of respondents rate the economy positively, a slight decline from the 32% recorded in July 2025 during the early months of President Donald Trump’s current term.

More than twice as many voters describe economic conditions as either “fair” or “poor.”

Many Americans also report feeling continued pressure from rising prices. Compared with a year earlier, large majorities say the costs of essential goods and services have increased.

• 81% say grocery prices have risen, including 56% who say they have increased significantly
• 79% report higher utility costs
• 71% say healthcare expenses have gone up
• 65% say housing costs have increased
• 51% say gasoline prices are higher

Although 22% of voters say inflation is mostly or completely under control, the highest level recorded since 2022, most Americans still believe inflation remains a serious issue.

Personal Financial Stress Is Widespread

Many voters also report struggling with their own finances.

Overall, 57% rate their personal financial situation negatively.

Certain demographic groups report particularly high levels of financial strain:

• Independents: 61% negative ratings
• Black voters: 66%
• Voters under age 30: 66%
• Women: 66%
• Households earning under $50,000 annually: 74%

Job quality is another concern. Only 9% of voters say there are many good-paying jobs available in their community, while 15% say there are almost none at all.

Cost of Living Dominates Economic Concerns

When asked to identify the most important economic issue facing the country, voters overwhelmingly point to the cost of living.

Half of respondents (50%) say it is the top economic problem. Other issues trail far behind:

• Government spending: 18%
• Jobs: 10%
• Income inequality: 9%
• Tariffs: 8%
• Taxes: 4%

Trump’s Job Approval Remains Negative

President Donald Trump’s overall job approval remains largely unchanged from earlier months.

Currently, 43% of voters approve of his performance, while 57% disapprove. These numbers are almost identical to results recorded in both January and December.

Additionally, six in ten voters believe Trump is focused on the wrong priorities.

For comparison, 54% of voters said the same about President Joe Biden in November 2021.

Deep Partisan Divisions Over Trump

Views of the president are sharply divided along party lines.

Among Democrats, dissatisfaction is nearly universal:

• 95% disapprove of Trump’s performance
• 94% say he is focusing on the wrong issues

Republicans remain strongly supportive, though not unanimously so:

• 87% approve of his job performance
• 83% believe he is focusing on the right priorities

Within the Republican Party itself, a significant divide exists between supporters of the MAGA movement and those who do not identify with it.

Among MAGA-aligned Republicans:

• 98% approve of Trump’s performance
• 95% say he is focused on the right issues

Among non-MAGA Republicans:

• Only 63% approve of Trump’s performance
• 57% believe his priorities are correct

Independents tend to lean strongly negative, with 72% disapproving of Trump’s performance and 78% saying he is focused on the wrong issues.

Issue Ratings: Border Security the Only Positive Area

Among several policy areas tested in the poll, border security is the only issue where Trump receives majority approval, with 52% approving and 48% disapproving.

On most other topics, his ratings are significantly negative:

• Cost of living: 32% approve, 67% disapprove
• Tariffs: 27-point negative gap
• Economy: 23-point negative gap
• Healthcare: 23-point negative gap
• Foreign policy: 20-point negative gap
• Taxes: 19-point negative gap
• Jobs: 13-point negative gap
• Immigration: 6-point negative gap

Interestingly, even many Republican voters express concern about the president’s handling of the cost of living, with 33% of Republicans disapproving on that issue.

Tariffs Remain Unpopular

The poll also shows widespread skepticism toward tariffs.

• 63% of voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of tariffs
• 56% oppose tariffs in general

Among the top concerns cited by voters are:

• Higher prices for consumers
• The possibility of trade wars
• Reduced availability of goods

Supporters of tariffs, however, argue that they help counter unfair trade practices, protect American jobs, generate government revenue, and reduce the trade deficit.

Reaction to the Supreme Court’s Tariff Decision

In February, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling limiting the administration’s authority to impose certain tariffs.

Most voters (62%) believe Trump has been treated fairly by the Court in that decision.

Majorities of Democrats (76%) and independents (58%) agree with that assessment, while half of Republicans (50%) say the same.

At the same time, public confidence in the Supreme Court itself has declined. Currently, 57% of voters disapprove of the Court, representing a seven-point increase since last summer.

That shift appears driven largely by Republican voters, whose disapproval has nearly doubled—from 20% in 2025 to 39% today.

How the Poll Was Conducted

The Fox News survey was conducted February 28 through March 2, 2026, under the direction of Beacon Research (Democratic firm) and Shaw & Company Research (Republican firm).

The poll included 1,004 registered voters nationwide selected from a national voter file.

Participants responded through multiple methods:

• 104 landline interviews
• 642 cellphone interviews
• 258 online responses after receiving a text invitation

The overall margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points. Error margins are larger for subgroup analysis.

Researchers also weighted responses based on demographic factors such as age, race, education level, and geographic region to better represent the national voting population.