A poll conducted by NBC News and published this Tuesday, as Americans headed to the polls for the midterm elections, revealed that most voters directly blame President Donald Trump for the rising cost of living and the deterioration of their financial situation.
According to the preliminary survey results, 44% of voters stated that their economic situation is worse than it was two years ago, when Trump took office, compared to only 18% who reported an improvement.
The factor that dominates discontent is inflation: 79% of those surveyed indicated that rising prices are causing difficulties for their families, and nearly all expressed concern about the cost of food, fuel, basic services, and healthcare.
The attribution of responsibility toward Trump is striking. Nearly two-thirds of voters stated that his policies have worsened the economy; 65% believe that his tariff measures harm the national economy, and 62% hold him directly responsible for the high prices.
75% of respondents described the national economy as being in a difficult situation, and 39% identified the economy as the most important issue in the country, ahead of the state of democracy, mentioned by 32%.
Analyst Patrick J. Egan from NBC News noted that these figures "are similar to those recorded during the 2022 midterm elections under President Joe Biden; however, the economic perception is much more negative than during Trump's first midterm elections in 2018."
The discontent is not limited to the economy. 57% of voters felt that Trump’s immigration control measures have gone too far, and nearly half saw this midterm election as an opportunity to express stronger opposition to his administration. 43% indicated that one of the reasons for their vote was to show opposition to the president, a higher proportion than recorded in the 2018 congressional elections.
The context leading up to the day already hinted at discontent: Trump's approval rating dropped to historic lows in multiple polls, with a mere 31% according to Reuters/Ipsos and only 26% approval of his economic management according to AP-NORC. Inflation stood at 3.7% year-on-year in September 2026, surpassing the average wage growth of 3%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The tariffs imposed by Trump —ranging from 10% to 12.5% on 60 countries, including the European Union, Mexico, and Japan— have been identified as a factor that increases product prices for consumers, with estimates of an additional cost of between $1,400 and $2,600 per year per family.
In this election, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 in the Senate are at stake. Prior to the election day, the Republicans controlled the House by 218-214 and the Senate by 53-47, and the Democrats needed a net gain of four seats in each chamber to regain control of Congress.
The chairman of the Republican National Committee, Joe Gruters, sought to maintain optimism in statements to NBC News: "I believe we are well positioned to challenge history, but everything will depend on turnout."
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