Poll: 73% Say Trump Hasn't Paid Enough Attention To Nation's Biggest Problems

With months to go before November's midterm elections and gasoline prices rising nationwide, a new CNN/SSRS poll finds a wide majority of Americans believe President Donald Trump has not focused enough on the country's most pressing issues.

Key Poll Findings

The survey, released July 29, shows 73% of U.S. adults said Trump has not 'paid enough attention to the country's most important problems.' Seventy-one percent of respondents said the president has not gone far enough to lower prices for everyday goods; U.S. gas prices averaged $4.09 on July 30. The CNN/SSRS poll was conducted July 23–27, surveyed 1,225 adults and has a margin of error of ±3.2 percentage points.

Economic Concerns

Nearly two-thirds of respondents said they believe the administration's policies have worsened economic conditions. Concerns about rising prices, including fuel, emerged as a major theme driving negative evaluations of the president's performance.

Foreign Policy: Iran

The poll found widespread skepticism about the administration's handling of the conflict with Iran. Seventy-one percent expect the conflict to continue for a long time, and 74% said they do not believe Trump has a clear plan. The U.S. military launched strikes in Iran on July 29 in response to what officials described as a 'surprise attack' by Tehran; the president said he wanted to hit them 'very hard' and to 'smack them a little bit' after Iran fired missiles at U.S. and Saudi forces.

Domestic Projects And Public Reaction

At home, the president has pursued several controversial construction projects in Washington, D.C., including a new South Lawn helipad to accommodate the VH-92A Patriot helicopter and plans to replace the East Wing with a large ballroom, along with proposed renovations to the National Mall's Reflecting Pool. While the administration frames these as beautification efforts, fewer than half of Republicans view the projects favorably, and Democrats and independents overwhelmingly oppose them, according to CNN/SSRS.

Approval Ratings

This week saw several national polls register record-low approval ratings for the president. CNN/SSRS recorded a 34% approval rating — matching his previous low after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. An Economist/YouGov poll on July 28 also found 34% approval. Quinnipiac University reported 32% on July 29, and an AP-NORC poll on July 30 put approval at 33%.

Context And Notes

The polling results reflect heightened public concern about economic pressures and foreign conflict as voters head into the midterm season. The CNN/SSRS sample size and margin of error mean shifts of a few points could reflect sampling variation, but the large majorities on key questions indicate substantial skepticism about the administration's priorities and performance.

Reporting credits: USA TODAY. Michelle Del Rey, Zac Anderson and Bart Jansen contributed to the original report. Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY ([email protected]; X: @fern_cerv_).

Construction of the helipad is being done on the site of the temporary arena that hosted theUFC Freedom 250 fight cardin June on the South Lawn.(Kylie Cooper, REUTERS)

Crews continue to prep the area for the helipad on June 24, 2026 after the Ultimate Fighting Championship Freedom 250 "Claw," a 92-foot-tall temporary stadium was dismantled on the White House South Lawn in Washington, DC.(Tasos Katopodis, Getty Images)

The area for the helipad is enclosed in fencing on the South Lawn on June 28, 2026 in Washington, DC.(Al Drago, Getty Images)

Construction of a new helipad on the South Lawn of the White House continues on July 1, 2026 in Washington, DC. The new helipad is being constructed to accommodate the VH-92A Patriot helicopter that will be used as Marine One, an aircraft that generates significant exhaust heat that would damage the traditional grass landing zone.(Win McNamee, Getty Images)

An aerial view of ongoing construction of a helipad and ballroom at the White House from the U.S. Army Golden Knight DHC-8 airplane on the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, over Washington, D.C., July 4, 2026.(Eric Lee, REUTERS)

A view from a window at the Washington Monument of the White House and the ongoing Ballroom construction including the new helipad in Washington, D.C., July 14, 2026.(Ken Cedeno, REUTERS)

Marine One comes in for landing near the White House as President Donald Trump is set to depart from the Ellipse in Washington, DC, on July 15, 2026, amid construction work on a new helipad. President Donald Trump on July 13 confirmed that work was underway to build a "beautiful" new helipad at the White House, in his latest personally directed redesign to the iconic building. The helipad is situated on the South Lawn, where presidents and their family for decades have been photographed strolling across the grass to board or exit awaiting "Marine One" helicopters.(ALEX WROBLEWSKI, AFP via Getty Images)

The White House and the ongoing Ballroom construction as seen from a window at the top of the Washington Monument, in Washington, D.C., July 15, 2026. REUTERS/Al Drago(AL DRAGO, REUTERS)

Construction of a new helipad on the South Lawn of the White House continues on July 22, 2026 in Washington, DC.(Finn Gomez, Getty Images)

Construction of a new helipad on the South Lawn of the White House continues on July 22, 2026 in Washington, DC.(Finn Gomez, Getty Images)

Geese stand in front of a helicopter before President Donald Trump's departure to attend a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, D.C., July 22, 2026.(Kylie Cooper, REUTERS)

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an announcement to renovate Washington Dulles International Airport, in the Oval Office of the White House on July 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.