A fresh survey from the NBC News Decision Desk, conducted with SurveyMonkey, shows that 71% of Americans believe the nation is on the wrong track—the highest such figure recorded during President Trump's second term. Only 29% say the U.S. is headed in the right direction, the first time that number has dipped below 30% since Trump returned to the White House.
The findings arrive as the November midterms approach, with polling consistently suggesting Democrats are poised to reclaim the House and possibly the Senate. The survey, fielded from Sept. 28 to Oct. 12 among 19,135 respondents, carries a margin of error of 2.6 percentage points.
Economic worries dominate
The economy remains the top issue for voters, cited by 31% overall and 35% of independents. Personal financial assessments are grim: only 18% say they are better off than a year ago, while 44% report being worse off and 38% say their situation is unchanged.
Gas prices, tied to the ongoing Iran conflict, are a major concern. Two-thirds of respondents (67%) describe the higher costs as either “very serious” or “somewhat serious,” while 33% dismiss them as “not too serious” or “not a problem at all.”
Corruption concerns
Government corruption is another pressing issue. A majority (56%) say the problem is equally severe in both parties, while 25% believe it is worse among Republicans and 17% say it is worse among Democrats.
These perceptions extend to the Trump administration: 52% view it as “more corrupt” than previous administrations, 25% say it is less corrupt, and 23% see it as about the same.
Impeachment and $5,000 checks
If Democrats win control of the House, 52% of respondents say they should begin impeachment proceedings against Trump, while 48% oppose such a move. This sentiment aligns with Trump's sinking approval ratings as midterm discontent grows.
Americans are also skeptical of Trump's promise to send $5,000 checks to every adult if Republicans keep their congressional majorities. A large majority (71%) say they “definitely” or “probably” do not expect to receive such a payment, while only 14% believe the checks will actually go out.
Midterm outlook
The survey's findings align with election forecasts from Decision Desk HQ, which give Democrats a 77% probability of winning the House and a 56% chance of taking the Senate. A Democratic takeover would likely usher in firm legislative opposition during Trump's final two years in office, potentially complicating his agenda on issues like Russia policy and other priorities.
The poll's record-high wrong-track number underscores the political headwinds facing the GOP as voters head to the polls. With economic pessimism and corruption concerns front and center, the midterms are shaping up to be a referendum on the administration's performance.
