The CNN/SSRS survey finds widespread dissatisfaction with President Trump’s first year: 58% call it a failure and 64% say he hasn’t done enough to lower everyday prices. The economy is voters’ top concern, yet many doubt Trump is addressing it; 55% say his policies have worsened economic conditions. His overall approval is 39%, strong within the GOP but weak among independents and younger voters, and a growing share says he has gone too far in using presidential power.
CNN/SSRS Poll: Majority Say Trump Focuses On Wrong Priorities; 58% Call First Year A Failure
President Donald Trump looks on as he holds a pen in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC on February 4, 2025. - Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters
A new CNN/SSRS poll finds broad public dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump’s first year back in the White House. A majority of Americans say he is focused on the wrong priorities and has not done enough to address the rising cost of living.
Key Findings
Overall Assessment: Fifty-eight percent of respondents called the first year of Trump’s term a failure. His overall job approval in the poll stands at 39%.
Economy And Cost Of Living: The economy is voters’ top concern, cited by roughly twice as many people as the next issue. A majority (55%) say Trump’s policies have worsened economic conditions, while 32% say they have improved them. Sixty-four percent say he has not gone far enough to reduce prices of everyday goods. Expectations for the economy a year from now have weakened — just over four in 10 expect it to be good, down from 56% before he was sworn in.
Support Base And Demographics: Trump retains strong support within his party: nearly nine in 10 Republicans approve of his performance and about half strongly approve. Among self-described members of the MAGA movement (roughly 40% of GOP-aligned adults), support is nearly universal. But approval among independents is just 29%, and he receives virtually no backing from Democrats. Approval among Latinos and adults under 35 has fallen to about 30% (down from 41% earlier).
Priorities, Empathy And Competence: Only 36% say Trump has had the right priorities (down from 45% early in his term). One-third say he cares about people like them, and 37% believe he puts the good of the country above personal gain. Fewer than half say he has the stamina and sharpness to serve effectively, and just 35% say they are proud to have him as president.
Use Of Power And Cultural Change: A 58% majority says Trump has gone too far in using presidential and executive power, up from 52% near the start of his term. Sixty-two percent say he has gone too far in efforts to change cultural institutions such as the Smithsonian and the Kennedy Center, and 57% say he has gone too far in cutting federal programs. About half believe he has gone too far in changing how the U.S. government works.
“Even if he is doing some good in areas, he comes across very self-seeking and (shows a) lack of caring about the common good of our citizens,” an independent from Oklahoma wrote in response to the poll.
No Clear Signature Issue: During his first term, the economy tended to lift Trump’s approval ratings; at the start of his second term immigration stood out as a strength. In this poll, however, his ratings on tested issues (economy, immigration, foreign policy, government management and health care) cluster within a three-point range of his 39% overall approval, suggesting no single issue is broadly boosting his numbers.
Outlook On Change: The share of Americans who expect Trump’s presidency to fundamentally change America has fallen from 52% last April to 41% now. While a majority still expects significant change, more people say the effects of those changes will fade over time.
Poll Methodology
The CNN poll was conducted by SSRS online and by phone from January 9–12 among a random national sample of 1,209 adults. The margin of sampling error for the full sample is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
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