Is Donald Trump improving the lives of Americans?

Is Trump's record helping Americans? I'll pull the latest data on the economy, costs and polls to give you a balanced answer.

Whether Donald Trump is improving the lives of Americans is disputed and depends on which metrics and which groups are considered. Recent polling and economic data show a mixed and largely negative public perception, alongside claims of accomplishments cited by the administration and supporters.

What recent public opinion polls show

•A Financial Times/Focaldata survey found only 28 percent approve of President Donald Trump's handling of jobs and the economy, while his overall approval was 34 percent.

•An AP-NORC poll found only 17% approve of his handling of the cost of living and just 26% approve of his handling of the economy overall, marking a new low. The same poll found 65% of U.S. adults blame Trump's policies for persistently high costs more than factors outside his control.

•A Pew Research Center survey of 5,062 adults conducted Sept. 28-Oct. 4, 2026 found:

•65% say Trump's economic policies have made things worse, 15% say not much effect, 19% say better

•Just 21% say economic conditions are excellent or good, down from 28% at the start of the year

•74% say they are very concerned about price of gas and energy, up from 43% in January before the conflict with Iran

•On tariffs, 56% see the administration's tariff policies as having a more negative than positive effect, versus 20% positive.

•On other issues, Trump retains relative strength on border security, with about half approving of his performance on that issue.

Pew also found Republicans have become more divided: 39% of Republicans say policies made conditions better - down from 57% in January - while 35% say worse.

What economic indicators show

•Measured year-over-year, GDP increased 2.2 percent in 2025, compared with 2.3 percent the previous year.

•Other reporting cited Bureau of Economic Analysis and Census data showing real median household income reached a record $87,460 in 2025, while unemployment was 4.2% in September against 4.4% a year earlier in that report.

•A FactCheck.org update for early in the second term reported job growth slowed, with 369,000 jobs created as of March and unemployment ticking up to 4.3%, while average weekly earnings adjusted for inflation rose 1.0%.

•Other analyses noted real (inflation-adjusted) average hourly earnings fell 0.8% between May 2025 and May 2026, and that inflation crossed above wage growth in late 2025.

What the administration and supporters cite as improvements

Supporters commonly list tax cuts, job growth, deregulation, lower unemployment, and increased energy production as achievements.

Specific claims compiled by supportive outlets for the second term include:

•2017 tax cuts made permanent — The "One Big Beautiful Bill" extended major provisions of Trump's first-term tax law while adding measures involving tips, overtime, Social Security taxes and business investment

•Major deregulation effort — 129 deregulatory actions for every new regulation in FY2025

•Border crossings sharply reduced to lowest level in roughly 50 years

•Violent crime cited as down 9.7% in 2025, including large decreases in murder and robbery

•$18 trillion in announced U.S. investment commitments in factories, semiconductors, data centers and energy

What critics point to

Critics point to the polling on cost of living, tariffs, and the Iran conflict as evidence policies have not improved daily financial conditions, noting that about 7 in 10 Americans said Trump's handling of cost of living was "worse than expected," including roughly half of Republicans, and that 64% said he had "gone too far" on tariffs.

In short, objective measures like GDP and median income show modest growth or stability, while public perception — as measured by major national polls in late 2025 and 2026 — shows a majority of Americans do not believe their lives or the economy have improved under Trump's second-term policies, with views sharply divided by party.

Citations (3)

1ap.orgNews and mediaquality 0.69
Most Americans blame Trump for high prices as his economic approval hits new low, AP-NORC poll shows
Backs: “A Financial Times/Focaldata survey found only 28 percent approve of President Donald Trump's handling of jobs and the economy, while his overall approval was 34 percent. An AP-NORC poll found only 17% approve of his handling of the cost of living and just 26% approve of his handling of the economy overall, marking a…”
2pewresearch.orgNonprofits and think tanks
Cost Concerns Dominate as Public’s Economic Ratings Turn More Negative
Backs: “adults blame Trump's policies for persistently high costs more than factors outside his control. A Pew Research Center survey of 5,062 adults conducted Sept.”
3wethepeopleconvention.orgNot yet classified
We the People Convention
Backs: “Supporters commonly list tax cuts, job growth, deregulation, lower unemployment, and increased energy production as achievements. Specific claims compiled by supportive outlets for the second term include: 2017 tax cuts made permanent — The "One Big Beautiful Bill" extended major provisions of Trump's first-term tax…”