Financial Times Poll Challenges Trump: 53% of Americans Report Worsening Finances

The Trump administration’s claims that Americans’ economic situation has improved over the past year have been called into question by a Financial Times poll.

Registered voters were asked whether they felt financially better or worse off since January 2025, when Donald Trump took office at the White House. The answer was clear: 53% said their financial situation had worsened since Trump’s return to the White House.

The same dissatisfaction is evident among independent voters, 57% of whom say they are in a worse financial position. A quarter of Republican voters also expressed dissatisfaction.

The survey was published less than three months before the US midterm elections and signals that inflation and the cost of living are becoming issues of electoral significance. Although current inflation stands at 3.4%, lower than in some periods during Biden’s term, American voters appear to trust Democrats more to manage inflation and the cost of living.

Democrats have also taken the lead for the first time on issues related to the economy and employment, two areas where Republicans have traditionally been more favored. These results are a troubling warning for Trump and the Republican Party, as the economic situation and living expenses could directly affect the outcome of the November elections.