Americans Fed Up: New Poll Reveals Record Disapproval of Congress, Economy, and Trump

Voter Anger Toward Washington Hits Record Highs

A wave of frustration is sweeping across the American electorate, fueled by persistent economic pressures and deep dissatisfaction with political leadership at every level. A newly released Fox News poll reveals that disapproval of Congress, the economy, and President Trump has reached striking new benchmarks, signaling a turbulent political landscape heading into 2026.

Congressional Approval at Historic Lows

The poll delivers a particularly harsh verdict on congressional Democrats, with a record 70% of voters disapproving of their performance — a six-point jump since December. Only 29% of respondents view them favorably. Congressional Republicans fared somewhat better but still face significant headwinds, with 64% disapproving and just 36% approving.

A notable divide exists within party ranks. Republican voters are showing stronger internal cohesion, with 77% expressing approval of their party's congressional leaders. Democrats, by contrast, offered a weaker show of unity — only 62% approve of their own party's performance in Congress.

A Nation Dissatisfied With Its Own Government

Beyond Capitol Hill, broader sentiment toward the federal government has turned deeply negative. Just 8% of voters describe themselves as "enthusiastic" about how Washington is functioning, while 26% say they are "satisfied." The majority are either "dissatisfied" (33%) or outright "angry" (32%) — both figures representing all-time highs in this survey.

Compared to a similar point during the Biden administration in early 2022, two critical shifts stand out. The enthusiasm figure of 8% and the anger figure of 32% are unprecedented in the poll's history. Additionally, the partisan makeup of that anger has completely reversed. In 2022, Republicans were more than four times as likely as Democrats to express anger toward Washington. Today, Democrats are more than five times as likely as Republicans to feel that way.

Anger as a Political Mobilizer

Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who conducted the survey alongside Democratic pollster Chris Anderson, noted the political significance of this shift. "Political science research indicates anger is a more powerful mobilizing force than hope or fear," Shaw explained. "The anger on the left may be one reason Democrats have been performing so well in recent special elections and early 2026 primaries."

Economic Anxiety Drives Much of the Frustration

At the heart of voter discontent lies the economy. Only 30% of respondents rate current economic conditions positively — down slightly from 32% in July 2025, earlier in President Trump's second term. More than twice as many voters describe conditions as only fair or poor.

Cost-of-living pressures remain the dominant concern. An overwhelming 81% of voters say grocery prices have risen compared to a year ago, with more than half — 56% — saying they have gone up significantly. Similarly large shares report higher costs for utilities (79%), healthcare (71%), housing (65%), and gasoline (51%).

While 22% say inflation is at least mostly under control — the highest reading since 2022 — a majority of 57% disagree. Personal finances are also a sore spot, with 57% rating their own financial situations negatively. That figure climbs even higher among independents (61%), Black voters (66%), voters under 30 (66%), women (66%), and households earning under $50,000 annually (74%).

When it comes to jobs, only 9% believe their communities offer a lot of decent-paying employment opportunities, while 15% say there are almost none available.

Cost of Living Tops Economic Priorities

Half of all voters — 50% — identify the cost of living as the most pressing economic issue facing the nation. That concern vastly outpaces government spending (18%), jobs (10%), income inequality (9%), tariffs (8%), and taxes (4%).

Trump's Approval Remains Underwater

President Trump's overall job approval sits at 43%, with 57% disapproving — figures that have remained largely consistent since December. Roughly six in ten voters also say Trump is focused on the wrong priorities, a slightly higher share than the 54% who said the same about President Biden in November 2021.

Democratic opposition to Trump is nearly universal, with 95% disapproving of his performance and 94% saying he is focused on the wrong issues. Republican support is strong but not unanimous — 87% approve of his job performance, and 83% believe his priorities are correct.

A Fault Line Within the Republican Party

A significant divide exists within GOP ranks based on alignment with the MAGA movement. Among self-identified MAGA Republicans, Trump's approval rating soars to 98%. Among non-MAGA Republicans, that number drops to 63% — a 35-point gap. A similar divide of 38 points exists on whether Trump is focused on the right issues (95% MAGA vs. 57% non-MAGA).

Independents remain broadly critical, with 72% disapproving of Trump's overall performance and 78% saying he is concentrating on the wrong things.

Issue-by-Issue Breakdown

Border security stands out as the only area where Trump receives net positive marks, with 52% approving of his handling of the issue. Every other major policy area shows negative ratings:

• Cost of living: 32% approve, 67% disapprove (-35 points)
• Tariffs: 27 points underwater
• Economy and healthcare: Each 23 points underwater
• Foreign policy: -20 points
• Taxes: -19 points
• Jobs: -13 points
• Immigration: -6 points

Noteworthy is the fact that even among Republicans, 33% disapprove of Trump's handling of the cost of living — a far higher negative rating than he receives from his own party on other issues.

Tariffs Draw Widespread Opposition

Public sentiment on tariffs is decidedly negative. Nearly two-thirds of voters — 63% — disapprove of Trump's management of tariff policy, and 56% oppose tariffs broadly. The chief concerns center on rising consumer prices, the threat of a trade war, and reduced availability of goods.

Those who support tariffs point to the need to address unfair trade practices, protect American jobs, generate government revenue, and shrink the trade deficit.

Supreme Court in the Spotlight

Following a February 20 Supreme Court ruling that curtailed the administration's tariff authority, most voters — 62% — say Trump has been treated fairly by the high court. That view is shared by 76% of Democrats, 58% of independents, and 50% of Republicans.

However, the Supreme Court's own favorability has declined. A 57% majority now disapproves of the Court, up 7 points since last summer. Driving that increase is a near-doubling of Republican disapproval, which rose from 20% in 2025 to 39% today.

Survey Methodology

This Fox News poll was conducted February 28 through March 2, 2026, by Beacon Research and Shaw & Company Research. The survey included interviews with 1,004 registered voters randomly selected from a national voter file. Participants responded via landline (104), cellphone (642), or online after receiving a text message (258). The full-sample margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points. Subgroup results carry a higher margin of error.