A record number of Americans believe President Trump is neglecting the most pressing issues facing the country, according to a new CNN poll released Wednesday. The survey found that 73 percent of respondents say Trump is not prioritizing the top problems Americans face daily, while only 27 percent say he has the right priorities.
The poll paints a grim picture for the president on multiple fronts. Majorities say his economic and military policies have made conditions worse—65 percent for the economy and 67 percent for military actions. Only 22 percent say the economy has improved under his policies, and just 21 percent believe his military actions in Iran have helped the United States.
On the Iran war, the number of Americans who say Trump lacks a clear strategy has risen to 74 percent, up from 67 percent in a similar CNN poll conducted in March. The conflict, jointly launched with Israel in late February, has drawn bipartisan criticism and contributed to rising gas prices and inflation.
Americans are particularly unhappy with the president's handling of economic pressures. Three-quarters of respondents said they are dissatisfied with rising inflation, and 79 percent disapprove of his handling of gas prices, which have climbed over the past six months due to the U.S.-Israeli conflict in Iran. Two out of three Americans told Gallup recently that they have experienced financial hardship from high gas prices.
Trump's overall approval rating has sunk to 34 percent, matching his post-January 6 lows. About 50 percent of Americans say they strongly disapprove of his policies, while only 15 percent strongly approve—both record highs and lows. These numbers align with a separate Economist/YouGov poll that found 62 percent of Americans either strongly or somewhat disapprove of his job performance.
The president has faced backlash from both parties for his handling of the Iran war and for failing to curb inflation. Trump has acknowledged the war's economic impact but has downplayed concerns about Americans' financial well-being. In May, he told reporters, “I don't think about Americans' financial situations. I don't think about anybody. I think about one thing: We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”
The poll comes amid growing criticism from across the political spectrum. Some GOP figures have also questioned Trump's strategy in the Middle East, with Alex Jones flipping the script and urging Congress to impeach Trump over the Iran war. Meanwhile, the president's approval has continued to slide as tariffs crush auto jobs and contribute to economic uncertainty.
The CNN survey was conducted July 23-27 and included 1,225 respondents. The margin of error is 3.2 percentage points.
