Republicans still approve of Trump’s handling of inflation — even as feelings about economy sour dramatically
President Trump’s handling of inflation continues to receive strong support from Republicans, although there has been a slight decline in approval among the broader public, according to a recent poll. The CBS News/YouGov survey found that 63% of Republicans approve of Trump’s approach to inflation, down from 74% in March, while only 27% of the general public share the same sentiment, a decrease from 33%.
Inflation has been on the rise, reaching 3.8% for the 12 months ending in April, well above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, primarily due to disruptions in energy markets. Despite this, the US added 115,000 new jobs in April, exceeding expectations.
Trump’s support among Republicans during economic challenges comes after successful interventions in GOP primaries. His endorsement of Rep. Julia Letlow in the Louisiana Senate GOP primary led to the defeat of incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy. Additionally, he played a role in ousting five Republican state legislators in Indiana who had opposed him on redistricting issues.
Overall, 85% of Republicans either somewhat or strongly approve of Trump’s performance, while only 37% of the general public approve. However, there is a prevailing sense of pessimism about the economy, exacerbated by the conflict in Iran and the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, which has caused a spike in gas prices.
When asked to describe the state of the economy, respondents used words like “uncertain,” “struggling,” and “unfair,” with only a small percentage mentioning “rebounding” or “stable.” Concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on job loss were also prevalent among Americans.
Despite the negative outlook on the economy, the poll showed that only 35% of respondents believe Democrats have a better approach to economic issues, compared to 31% who prefer Trump and the Republicans.
President Trump has downplayed the economic effects of the conflict in Iran, stating that the situation requires a firm response to prevent the country from acquiring nuclear weapons. He expressed confidence in a quick recovery in energy markets once the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is resolved.
The survey conducted by CBS News/YouGov sampled 2,064 adults from May 13-15, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points. The overall sentiment on the economy as reflected in the poll is one of the lowest ratings since 2023.
