Only 25% of Voters Approve of Trump’s Handling of the Economy, FT-Focaldata Poll Finds

Only one in four registered voters approves of President Donald Trump’s handling of jobs and the economy, according to a new Financial Times-Focaldata poll — a troubling signal for Republicans three weeks before the midterm elections.

The online survey, conducted Oct. 2–4 among 2,275 registered voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points, put Trump’s overall approval at 34%. Roughly one-fifth of respondents approved of his handling of inflation, and more than two-thirds said the U.S. economy is heading in the wrong direction.

The poll’s electoral warnings for the GOP went beyond the headline numbers. Forty-five percent of registered voters said Trump is making it harder for Republican candidates to win in November, and respondents favored Democrats over Republicans by more than five percentage points. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report has shifted its ratings for 18 House races toward Democrats and projects a Democratic gain of nine to 19 seats.

The economic backdrop appears to be driving the numbers. The U.S. economy added just 29,000 jobs in September, well below economists’ expectations, fueling concerns about labor market strength.

Cost of living, and a break on AI

The findings come as Trump steps up his involvement in congressional campaigns while Republican lawmakers press him to address voter concerns over the rising cost of living. Republicans have also increased advertising spending in competitive races.

The poll also showed a gap between voters and the administration on artificial intelligence: roughly two-thirds of respondents supported binding federal rules for AI companies and a more cautious pace of development, diverging from Trump’s emphasis on voluntary safeguards and rapid innovation.

Reporting based on coverage by the Financial Times via Seeking Alpha and Traders Union.