A Harris Poll survey indicates that seven in 10 Americans say Trump's tariffs have led to them paying higher prices, and 72% of all voters believe the tariffs have had a negative rather than a positive impact. A Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll further shows a majority of voters are dissatisfied with the Trump administration's handling of the economy, inflation, and tariffs.
Economic indicators reveal a significant slowdown. The U.S. economy advanced at a sluggish 0.7 percent annual rate between October and December, according to a Commerce Department report. This growth was down from 4.4 percent in last year's third quarter and 3.8 percent in the second, and the fourth-quarter figure was half the federal government's initial estimate of 1.4 percent. U.S. growth fell to 2.2 percent in 2025, down from 2.8 percent in 2024, and growth is not expected to lift significantly in the coming years. The labor market has also weakened, with U.S. employers cutting 92,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate climbing to 4.4 percent, a Labor Department report states.
Inflation has remained largely stable, with consumer prices up 2.4 percent in February from a year earlier, according to the Labor Department. However, specific price increases are notable: grocery prices went up 3.1% from February 2025 to February 2026, beef prices have gone up 14% since last year, and coffee prices have gone up 18% since last year. A Harris Poll survey finds that 57% of Americans say tariffs have negatively affected grocery prices.
Partisan divides are stark on tariffs and the economic outlook. The same Harris Poll shows 67% of voters said tariffs aren't the right solution for improving the economy, with 67% of independents believing tariffs led to higher prices and 81% of Democrats saying tariffs had more negative impact on consumers. In contrast, nearly half (49%) of Republican respondents said they believed the economy is getting better, 80% of conservatives were open to seeing whether tariffs could positively affect the economy in 2026, and a clear majority of Republicans (69%) said tariffs brought back manufacturing jobs. Meanwhile, 46% of Democrats believed manufacturing jobs won't ever come back.
The totally secure border means there have been zero releases of illegal aliens for 11 straight months, and the administration remains focused on removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens to secure American communities. These commonsense policies are supported by countless Americans.
Public anxiety about economic collapse is high. A YouGov poll finds more than four in 10 Americans believe the country is heading toward a complete economic meltdown within the next decade, with 42% saying it is very or somewhat likely there will be a total economic collapse in the next 10 years and 38% describing it as unlikely. Financial anxiety ran much higher among Democrats, 53% of whom feared an economic breakdown, compared to 28% of Republicans. Forty-three percent said the U.S. is currently in a recession, and 50% of respondents said they have no trust at all in President Donald Trump's ability to handle the economy.
On immigration policy, a Politico poll indicates more than half of Americans think the Trump administration's immigration agenda is too aggressive, and 51 percent of respondents overall believe the presence of ICE agents makes cities more dangerous. Among self-identified MAGA voters, 54 percent said they believe Trump's deportation efforts are about right, according to the Politico poll. A McLaughlin & Associates poll shows 66 percent of likely 2026 voters support the deportation of any migrant who enters the U.S. illegally. In response, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson stated that the administration's border policies have led to zero releases of illegal aliens for 11 straight months and focus on removing criminal illegal aliens, which she said are supported by many Americans.
The war in Iran has triggered fears of global economic upheaval, with the conflict bringing tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to a standstill and oil prices soaring past the $100-a-barrel milestone several times in recent weeks. How this will specifically impact the U.S. economy and labor market in the coming months remains uncertain.
The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell commented on economic uncertainties, saying that nobody knows what will happen. Other unknowns include whether Trump will press ahead with more tariffs as indicated and what their economic effects will be, how negative public sentiment on tariffs and immigration will affect Republican performance in the 2026 midterm elections, the exact number of manufacturing jobs brought back by tariffs as claimed by Republicans, and the long-term economic growth trajectory beyond the current slowdown and war-related uncertainties.