Overview
- A Focaldata online poll of 1,913 registered voters conducted Aug. 7–10 found 53% say their personal finances are worse since President Trump returned to the White House and nearly two-thirds say the economy is moving in the wrong direction.
- The survey shows Democrats leading Republicans 44% to 39% on likely November support and voters trust Democrats more on inflation, the cost of living, jobs, and the economy.
- Trump’s handling of inflation and living costs drew 64% disapproval in the poll while overall presidential disapproval stood at 55% and Republican net approval fell eight points versus the prior month.
- Official data cited alongside the poll show July inflation at 3.4% and a drop in real wages, trends that pollsters and reporters link to worsening pocketbook sentiment.
- The White House disputed the findings through spokesperson Kush Desai by citing policy wins on drug prices, job reshoring, and tax cuts, and the results raise the prospect that voter pocketbook anger could affect control of Congress in November.