Poll: Trump's approval drops 6 points as majority says a recession is likely in the next year
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
President Trump's efforts to assuage Americans' recession fears don't seem to be going very well.
At least, that's according to a new poll from The Washington Post/ABC News, in which 60 percent of those polled said a recession within the next year is either very or somewhat likely. This is compared to 35 percent who said a recession in the next year is very or somewhat unlikely.
Trump in recent weeks has blamed the media for reporting on fears of a potential looming recession based on possible warning signs like August's inverted yield curve, and the Post reports the president has told his aides "that he thinks he can convince Americans that the economy is vibrant and unrattled through a public messaging campaign."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
But in this poll, not only are most Americans seemingly not buying into that messaging campaign, but 43 percent said Trump has increased the chance of a recession in the next year with his economic and trade policies. For comparison, 34 percent said he hasn't made a difference, and 16 percent said he's decreased the chances of a recession. Fifty-six percent also disapproved of Trump's handling of trade negotiations with China, one major source of recession fears, while 35 percent approved.
Trump's overall approval rating declined six points from 44 percent in June to 38 percent now, with 47 percent disapproving of his handling of the economy and 56 percent disapproving of his overall job performance.
The Washington Post and ABC News conducted this poll by speaking to a random national sample of 1,003 adults over the phone from Sept. 2 through Sept. 5. The margin of error is 3.5 percentage points. Read more results of the poll likely to instill plenty of anxiety in Trump's re-election campaign at ABC News.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Why are election experts taking Trump’s midterm threats seriously?IN THE SPOTLIGHT As the president muses about polling place deployments and a centralized electoral system aimed at one-party control, lawmakers are taking this administration at its word
-
‘Restaurateurs have become millionaires’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Earth is rapidly approaching a ‘hothouse’ trajectory of warmingThe explainer It may become impossible to fix
-
NIH director Bhattacharya tapped as acting CDC headSpeed Read Jay Bhattacharya, a critic of the CDC’s Covid-19 response, will now lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
-
Witkoff and Kushner tackle Ukraine, Iran in GenevaSpeed Read Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held negotiations aimed at securing a nuclear deal with Iran and an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine
-
Pentagon spokesperson forced out as DHS’s resignsSpeed Read Senior military adviser Col. David Butler was fired by Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin is resigning
-
Judge orders Washington slavery exhibit restoredSpeed Read The Trump administration took down displays about slavery at the President’s House Site in Philadelphia
-
Hyatt chair joins growing list of Epstein files losersSpeed Read Thomas Pritzker stepped down as executive chair of the Hyatt Hotels Corporation over his ties with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell
-
Judge blocks Hegseth from punishing Kelly over videoSpeed Read Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed for the senator to be demoted over a video in which he reminds military officials they should refuse illegal orders
-
Trump’s EPA kills legal basis for federal climate policySpeed Read The government’s authority to regulate several planet-warming pollutants has been repealed
-
House votes to end Trump’s Canada tariffsSpeed Read Six Republicans joined with Democrats to repeal the president’s tariffs
