AP-NORC poll: Most Americans blame Trump for high prices as midterms near
A new AP-NORC poll finds only 17% of U.S. adults approve of President Trump's handling of the cost of living and 26% approve of his handling of the economy, with 65% saying his policies — more than outside factors — drive high prices.
AI-assisted · US Brief desk · Sources listed below
What happened
Most Americans say President Trump's policies — more than factors outside his control — are driving high prices, according to a new Associated Press-NORC Center poll released Thursday. Only 17% approve of his handling of the cost of living. Just 26% approve of his handling of the economy overall, a new low in the survey series.
What the poll found: Sixty-five percent of U.S. adults blame Trump's policies for persistently high costs. About 7 in 10 say his cost-of-living performance has been worse than expected, including roughly half of Republicans. About half of adults say they are extremely or very concerned about filling their tanks and about affording food, AP-NORC reported. The poll of 2,140 adults ran Sept. 24–28; the margin of sampling error is ±2.9 points.
Republican view: Most Republicans, 67%, still say factors outside Trump's control are more to blame for high prices, AP-NORC found. About 6 in 10 Republicans disapprove of his cost-of-living handling, up from about half in April. In AP interviews, some GOP voters said they still support tariffs or the Iran war while wanting faster relief on groceries and gas.
Why it matters
The numbers land about five weeks before Nov. 3 midterms that will decide Congress. Affordability is the dominant campaign pressure on Republicans even as Trump opens a multi-week travel blitz.
What’s next
Watch whether White House messaging on prices shifts, how GOP candidates distance or embrace Trump on the trail, and Friday's jobs report for fresh economic data.
More context
Iran and trade: Sixty-nine percent say the war with Iran has not been worth fighting. Only 28% approve of Trump's Iran handling. About 3 in 10 approve of his trade negotiations. Sixty-four percent say he has gone too far on new tariffs, up from 58% in January.
Other polling: A Fox News Poll of registered voters conducted Sept. 11–14 found cost of living the top unprompted issue (34%) and 63% saying the Trump administration has made the economy worse. That survey is separate from AP-NORC and uses a different sample.
5 listed sources
- AP via WTOP, Oct 1, 2026: Most Americans blame Trump for high prices as midterms approach
- AP-NORC Center, Oct 1, 2026: Most blame President Trump for higher prices
- ABC News / AP (Michelle L. Price), Oct 1, 2026: Trump and Vance hit the campaign trail
- Fox News Poll (Dana Blanton), Sep 16, 2026: Trump approval 39%; voters blame his economy for inflation
- Sourcing note: AP-NORC is probability-based survey research. Fox News Poll is a separate partisan-branded survey; both show pocketbook stress. Neither is treated as a election forecast.
References listed by US Brief; a source count is not a verification score.
Editorial sourcing notes
AP-NORC figures (17%/26%/65%/69% worse than expected/69% Iran not worth it/64% tariffs too far; n=2,140; Sept 24–28; MoE ±2.9) from AP wire via WTOP and AP-NORC project page, Oct 1, 2026. Fox News Poll (Sep 11–14, n=1,211 RV, MoE ±3) cited separately for cost-of-living salience and 63% saying Trump made economy worse — different sample/method. Quotes from AP interviews attributed. Polls are snapshots, not predictions.
Like US Brief? You can support it with a tip.