Even with deep public frustration over inflation and the economy, Democrats still can’t convince Americans they’d handle the nation’s problems any better than President Trump.
Quick Take
- A new ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll shows majorities disapprove of Trump’s handling of inflation, tariffs, international relations, immigration, and the economy.
- Despite that disapproval, Americans are nearly split on who they trust more to handle the country’s main problems: Trump, Democrats in Congress, or neither.
- Trump holds a small trust edge overall and leads slightly on immigration trust, while a large majority says both parties are “out of touch.”
- The poll was conducted before the Supreme Court invalidated Trump’s global tariffs, meaning views could shift after that ruling.
Poll Finds Broad Disapproval but No Democratic Breakthrough
ABC News reported that the ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos survey, fielded Feb. 12–17, found majorities disapprove of President Donald Trump’s handling of several top issues: inflation (65%), tariffs (64%), international relations (62%), immigration (58%), and the economy (57%). Trump’s overall job disapproval measured 60%, described as his highest in his second term. Yet the headline political reality is not simply disapproval—it’s the absence of a clear alternative.
On the core question of who Americans trust more to handle the nation’s main problems, the results were effectively a three-way split: 33% chose Trump, 31% chose Democrats in Congress, and 31% chose neither. For conservatives who remember years of Washington spending sprees and culture-war priorities, that “neither” number matters. It signals a public that may be unhappy, but still unconvinced that a return to Democratic leadership would deliver relief.
Immigration Is Trump’s Strongest Issue, but Not a Free Pass
The poll showed immigration as Trump’s relative bright spot: ABC’s write-up said it was his strongest area, with 47% approving of his handling, and it also reported Trump holding a small trust advantage on immigration. That gap was not massive, and the broader numbers still show more disapproval than approval. Even so, the comparative trust finding suggests many voters still see Democrats as weaker—or less credible—when the issue is border enforcement and national sovereignty.
That matters because immigration is not an abstract policy debate for many families. Border security connects to public safety, community stability, and the rule of law—core constitutional expectations of government. The poll doesn’t measure policy details, but it does show how voters sort responsibility. If Democrats want to be trusted on immigration, the data suggests messaging alone won’t do it; they would need to persuade voters they can enforce laws consistently and prioritize American citizens’ interests.
“Out of Touch” Label Hits Both Parties as Trust Splinters
ABC reported that 64% of Americans view both Trump and Democrats as out of touch. That’s a brutal number for a country that needs effective governance and a Congress capable of solving real problems like prices, wages, and public order. For conservative readers who have watched institutions chase ideological fads while daily costs climb, the “out of touch” verdict can feel like common sense. It also helps explain why neither party is consolidating trust, even amid heavy disapproval of current conditions.
The poll also captured intensified personal doubts about Trump, with record highs in this series questioning his mental sharpness and majorities questioning honesty and whether he exceeds his authority. Those readings help explain the overall disapproval, especially among Democrats and independents. At the same time, the survey write-up emphasized internal GOP dynamics: “MAGA” Republicans were far more supportive than non-MAGA Republicans on key issues. That split creates real political pressure inside the coalition, particularly when inflation remains a dominant complaint.
Timing Matters: Tariff Ruling Came After the Survey
One detail that should temper sweeping conclusions is timing. The poll was completed before a Feb. 20 Supreme Court decision invalidated Trump’s global tariffs, an event ABC noted as occurring after the survey period. Because the tariff fight is tied to prices and international trade tensions, the ruling could change public perceptions in either direction, depending on what voters believe the decision means for costs, jobs, and executive authority. The research provided does not include post-ruling polling.
Heading into a State of the Union address and the early stages of primary season, the numbers describe a politically volatile environment: dissatisfaction is high, trust is fractured, and many Americans don’t see a clearly competent governing option. Conservatives can read this as a warning and an opportunity. The warning is that inflation and economic confidence remain the public’s yardstick. The opportunity is that Democrats have not earned broad trust as the alternative, even when Trump’s numbers are under strain.
Sources:
Americans don’t trust Dems in Congress more to handle problems: Poll
Most Americans disapprove of Trump on issues; Americans don’t trust Dems in Congress more to handle problems: Poll
