Is Donald Trump improving the lives of Americans?

Searching to assess how Americans are faring under Trump — pulling recent measures of the economy and everyday life.

Whether Donald Trump's second term is improving lives depends on which measures are used — official economic data shows some improvements, while polling shows many Americans feel worse off.

What administration and supporters point to:

•The Census Bureau reported the official poverty rate in 2025 was 10.2%, the lowest rate on record since 1959. The administration credits its policies for this milestone.

•Median U.S. household income rose 2.6% in 2025 after adjusting for inflation, to $87,460, a record high topping the 2019 level of $85,320.

•The White House says inflation has dropped to an average of just 2.7% in Trump's second term compared to nearly 5% on average under Biden, and that Americans have seen the first overall price decline since 2020.

•On wages, the White House states real wages have grown by nearly 4% — or nearly $700 — after accounting for higher prices, and are on track to grow by nearly $1,200 after the first full year. House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith also cited positive real income growth since January 2025 and GDP expanding at a 4.3 percent annualized rate in Q3 2025.

•Other claims cited include gas prices falling to the lowest average price in 1,682 days, shelter inflation at a four-year low, and tax relief including no tax on tips, overtime and Social Security income.

What recent polls and independent data show about public perception:

•An AP-NORC poll found just 26% approve of Trump's handling of the economy overall, marking a new low, and a majority, 65%, of U.S. adults now blame Trump's policies for persistently high costs.

•Approval of Trump's handling of the cost of living has fallen to 17% in the AP-NORC poll, with roughly six in 10 Republicans disapproving.

•About 7 in 10 Americans say Trump's handling of the cost of living has been "worse than expected," including 52% of Republicans.

•In that same poll, 46% say they and their families are worse off since the start of Trump's second administration, and more than half say the country as a whole, the national economy, and their local economy are worse off since Trump was reelected.

Additional context:

•Independent comparisons note the overall inflation rate is about the same now (2.7 percent at the end of 2025) as it was when Biden left office (2.9 percent) and the unemployment rate (4.3 percent in January 2026) is slightly higher than when Biden left office (4.1 percent).

•Fact-checking of the poverty claim noted the supplemental poverty measure, which accounts for non-cash benefits and household expenses, was at 13.1% in 2025 and reached an all-time low of 7.7% in 2021 under Biden, and is considered more comprehensive by experts.

In short, official statistics on poverty, nominal income and GDP growth show gains in 2025-2026, while survey data shows a majority of Americans currently report dissatisfaction with the cost of living and blame administration policies, particularly tariffs, for high prices.

Citations (3)

1reflector.comNews and mediaquality 0.58
FACT FOCUS: The poverty rate is at an all-time low, but there are other factors to consider
Backs: “Whether Donald Trump's second term is improving lives depends on which measures are used — official economic data shows some improvements, while polling shows many Americans feel worse off. What administration and supporters point to:”
2whitehouse.govGovernment
President Trump Delivers Progress on Lowering Costs — With Much More Relief on the Way
Backs: “household income rose 2.6% in 2025 after adjusting for inflation, to $87,460, a record high topping the 2019 level of $85,320. The White House says inflation has dropped to an average of just 2.7% in Trump's second term compared to nearly 5% on average under Biden, and that Americans have seen the first overall price…”
3house.govGovernment
Chairman Smith: One Year In, President Trump Improving the Lives of All Americans - Ways and Means
Backs: “On wages, the White House states real wages have grown by nearly 4% — or nearly $700 — after accounting for higher prices, and are on track to grow by nearly $1,200 after the first full year.”