A new poll released just ahead of President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address suggests growing dissatisfaction with his agenda. The latest findings indicate that a majority of Americans believe he is not concentrating on the issues that matter most to the country.
Donald Trump’s new poll shows major changes
According to a new CNN survey, 68% of respondents said the president “hasn’t paid enough attention to the country’s most important problems.” By contrast, 32% said he “has had the right priorities.” The numbers from Donald Trump’s new poll reflect mounting frustration as economic and political pressures intensify.
The poll, conducted between February 17 and 20 among 2,496 adults, carries a margin of sampling error of 2.5 percentage points. Its release comes at a sensitive time, with Trump preparing to outline his administration’s direction in an important national address.
Furthermore, the new poll arrives as Donald Trump and Republicans confront several challenges. Voters continue to raise concerns about affordability and the rising cost of living. Additional controversies, including renewed attention on files connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, two deaths involving federal immigration authorities in Minnesota, and recent Democratic election wins, have added to the political strain.
With the 2026 midterms approaching, some Senate Republicans have publicly warned that the GOP needs to sharpen its focus on kitchen-table issues. Affordability, in particular, has come up as a central concern among voters who say economic pressures remain intense. President Trump, however, has dismissed claims that his administration has neglected cost-of-living issues.
Speaking at a steel fabricator in Rome, Georgia, he pushed back strongly against economic criticism. “I have to listen to the fake news talk about ‘affordability, affordability,’” Trump said. “Do you notice what word you have not heard over the last two weeks? Affordability. Because I’ve won. I’ve won affordability,” he continued. “I had to go out and talk about it, but we inherited a mess (via The Hill).”
Beyond this new poll on Donald Trump, broader approval metrics show continued challenges. In a polling average compiled by Decision Desk HQ, Trump’s approval rating stands at 41.7%. On the other hand, 56.3% disapprove of his performance.
