A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll finds that rising gas prices are squeezing household budgets and most Americans place the blame on President Trump, while Democrats hold a clear edge in midterm preferences. The nationwide survey of 1,322 adults was conducted April 27–30 and has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.1 percentage points.
The poll shows Trump at his lowest standing in this Marist series: 37% approve of his job performance and 59% disapprove, the highest disapproval recorded. Strong disapproval is 51%, matching his worst mark. Declines in support are visible across groups that had been more favorable early in his second term, including residents of the South, people with household incomes under $50,000, white men and women without college degrees, millennials, men, parents of children under 18, rural residents, and men in small cities and suburbs. Drops are also seen among white evangelical Christians and among some crossover voters, including younger and many Black and Latino respondents.
Republican enthusiasm for Trump has softened as well. In February 2025, 88% of Republicans approved of his performance (10% disapproved); in the current poll 81% approve and 18% disapprove — a roughly 15-point net decline over about a year.
Economic dissatisfaction is a central factor. Only 35% approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, tied for his worst mark in the poll series. National gas prices averaged $4.48 per gallon as of May 5 (AAA), up from under $3 a gallon before the Iran war. Eighty-one percent of respondents say current gas prices strain their household budget — including 79% of Republicans. By 63% to 37%, respondents say they blame Trump for the rise in gas prices; that includes about one-third of Republicans.
More than half (56%) describe their local area as not very affordable or not affordable at all. Groups most likely to say the economy isn’t working for them include white non-college women (72%), households earning under $50,000 (71%), millennials (69%) and adults ages 18–29 (65%).
Concerns about artificial intelligence are rising: roughly eight in 10 believe AI will eliminate more jobs than it creates, a 12-point increase from last year.
On foreign policy, Trump’s approval for handling Iran is 33%, down from 36% in March. Seventy-two percent of Republicans approve of his Iran policy, a seven-point drop. By 61% to 38%, respondents say the military action in Iran has done more harm than good, and 62% say Trump’s decisions have weakened the United States on the world stage.
The midterm landscape favors Democrats in both the ballot test and turnout enthusiasm. In a current congressional ballot test, Democrats lead 52% to 42%. Democrats are also more likely to report being “very enthusiastic” to vote (61% vs. 53% for Republicans). There is a 14-point enthusiasm gap between those who voted for Kamala Harris in 2024 (61% very enthusiastic) and those who voted for Trump (47%). Independents report much lower enthusiasm, with just 38% very enthusiastic.
Typical midterm turnout patterns could magnify this advantage: older and college-educated voters show the strongest enthusiasm — for example, those 60 and older (68%), white college-educated men (68%), white college graduates overall (64%), and people 45 and older (61%). The least enthusiastic groups include ages 18–29 (34%), Gen Z (35%), millennials (37%), households under $50,000 (37%), Black voters (39%), parents of children under 18 (40%), Latinos (42%), white women without degrees (45%) and Trump voters (47%).
Other notable results: 74% support requiring a government-issued photo ID to vote (including 51% of Democrats); 65% back requiring a passport or birth certificate to register; 80% favor a maximum age limit for members of Congress; 83% support congressional term limits; and 53% oppose automatic registration into the Selective Service, with partisans divided — 68% of Republicans favor automatic registration while 30% of Democrats do.
Six months before congressional elections, Democrats hold the advantage on both the ballot and enthusiasm measures, but actual outcomes will depend heavily on turnout in the months ahead.