Donald Trump faces a widening backlash over economic priorities, with new polling revealing that the majority of Americans believe he has abandoned affordability concerns in favor of aggressive deportation policies.
A Morris Predictive Insights survey found that 68% of respondents said the administration is too focused on mass deportations and not enough on addressing the cost of living. The finding comes as gasoline prices remain elevated and inflation stands at a three-year high.
The discontent appears rooted in Trump's recent public statements about economic policy. Days before the survey, he dismissed the financial strain of his Iran military campaign, saying it was not driving his approach to peace negotiations with Tehran.
Fuel prices tell part of the story. The nationwide average hit $4.55 per gallon on Friday, according to AAA, a jump of $1.35 from a year earlier. As Americans prepare for Memorial Day weekend travel, sticker shock at the pump underscores broader economic anxiety.
The polling reveals fractures across Trump's coalition. Among voters who backed him in 2024, 36% now say his administration has misaligned priorities. That figure climbs to 70% among voters who have switched away from Trump support. Even among loyal Trump voters, more than one in four believe he is on the wrong track.
A separate Gallup survey underscores the economic mood. Nearly half of Americans, 49%, rated current conditions as poor, while another 34% called them merely fair. Just 16% rated the economy as excellent or good, and only one in five said it was improving. Gallup also reported confidence in the economy at a four-year low.
The inflation picture is grimmer still. April's 3.8% inflation rate marks a three-year high, presenting immediate challenges for the newly appointed Federal Reserve chair, Kevin Warsh. Warsh replaces Jerome Powell, whom Trump has repeatedly attacked for refusing rate cuts that the president favors.
Voters are signaling clear priorities. A 53% majority said they would prefer redirecting spending away from immigration enforcement toward reducing food and grocery costs or lowering health care expenses. Fifty-six percent believe mass deportations damage the economy by raising costs for families, while 34% counter that such enforcement makes the country safer.
The political warning signs for Republicans are acute. Sixteen percent of Trump's 2024 voters now plan to vote against the party in November's congressional midterms. Among this group, 51% cited the faltering economy and rising living costs as their primary reason for switching. Another 36% said they were put off by Trump's personal conduct, while 24% blamed immigration enforcement.
Even Trump's signature policy achievements face scrutiny. His disapproval rating on immigration has reached minus 13 points, while his disapproval on the economy stands at minus 35 points, despite the economy being central to his electoral platform.
Author James Rodriguez: "The irony is brutal for Trump, polling shows voters care most about what he claims matters least, and his own voters are bolting over economics while he doubles down on immigration."
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