U.S. Midterm Elections Just One Month Away: Trump Faces Public Discontent as 65% Blame His Policies for High Prices — AP/NORC Survey
Washington, D.C., United States | October 2, 2026 | The Global Journal
With just one month to go before the U.S. midterm elections, the latest AP-NORC survey has highlighted growing public dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump over the cost of living and the economy.
According to the survey, 65 percent of U.S. adults believe Trump’s policies have played a role in higher-than-normal prices. At the same time, only 26 percent approve of the way Trump is handling the economy, while 73 percent disapprove.
Public opinion is also negative regarding Trump’s handling of the cost-of-living crisis. Just 17 percent approve of his actions in this area, while 69 percent say his performance has been worse than they expected.
However, there is a clear partisan divide over the causes of high prices. The survey found that 67 percent of Republicans say the reasons for higher prices are factors beyond the president’s control. Overall, however, 65 percent of U.S. adults associate higher prices with Trump’s policies.
Alongside dissatisfaction over the economy, there are concerns about the country’s broader economic situation. According to an AP report, the United States added just 29,000 jobs in September 2026, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.2 percent.
Some Trump supporters interviewed for the survey also expressed frustration over rising costs. Statements from voters quoted in the report pointed to pressure on household budgets caused by higher fuel prices and the rising cost of essential goods.
Republicans Also Express Dissatisfaction Over Trump’s Economic Policies
According to AP-NORC, dissatisfaction with Trump’s handling of the economy is not limited to Democrats. Some Republican voters have also expressed frustration over rising prices and the cost of living. At the same time, many Republicans attribute higher prices to factors beyond the president’s control rather than to Trump himself.
Robert Gault, a 66-year-old Republican, told The Associated Press that he had hoped economic conditions would improve under Trump’s leadership, but so far those expectations had not been met.
Meanwhile, 52-year-old Trump supporter Pedro Sanchez also pointed to the rising cost of living, saying higher fuel and other expenses have reduced the amount of money he has available for discretionary spending.
Public dissatisfaction also extends to Trump’s Iran policy. In the latest AP-NORC survey, 71 percent of U.S. adults said they disapprove of Trump’s handling of the Iran issue. At the same time, 69 percent said the war with Iran was not worth fighting.
The AP-NORC survey was conducted from September 24 to 28, 2026, among 2,140 U.S. adults, with an overall margin of sampling error of ±2.9 percentage points.
The 2026 U.S. midterm elections are scheduled for November 3. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and a portion of the Senate seats will be contested.
As the election approaches, issues including the economy, prices, the cost of living and foreign policy have become important parts of the U.S. public debate. The latest survey offers a snapshot of public opinion on these issues.
