The proportion of people who support the Republican Party on the economy has declined, a new poll from a conservative-leaning pollster suggests.
Why It Matters
The economy is of upmost importance to American voters. A Gallup poll showed that voters overwhelmingly cited economic pressures as the key reason they voted for President Donald Trump and Republicans in the November 2024 presidential election. Trump pledged to bring down inflation on the campaign trail
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
What To Know
A new poll for Napolitan News Service suggested 42 percent of respondents trust Democrats more than Republicans on inflation, while 38 percent trust Republicans more than Democrats on the same issue. Napolitan was founded by conservative pollster Scott Rasmussen.
On the economy in general, 41 percent trust Republicans more while 40 percent trust the Democrats. While the margins are tight, “previously, Republicans had double digit advantages on both,” the poll said.
The survey, conducted by Scott Rasmussen and RMG Research, involved 1,000 registered voters between April 9 and April 10. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent.
An earlier Napolitan poll, conducted by the same pollsters on February 27 and 28, suggested Republicans led Democrats 43 to 33 percent on the economy. The poll had a margin of error of +/- 3.1.
The new poll comes as Trump’s tariff policy has sparked global economic uncertaintly, while the president has urged the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates—a mechanism that could potentially push inflation up. Trump thinks the Federal should cut interest rates more quickly than it is to help fuel economic growth.
Last Wednesday, Trump said he was pausing his “reciprocal” tariffs on global trading partners announced on April 2. The pause will last 90 days, during which a sweeping set of 10 percent tariffs remain in place. The pause did not include China, which the White House says faces tariffs of up to 245 percent.
The poll also found that 84 percent said the economy was very important while 12 percent said it was somewhat important. 73 percent said inflation was very important while 22 percent said it was somewhat important.
Confidence in Trump’s handling of the economy has fluctuated. A recent poll found young people are supporting the Republican Party in greater numbers, while a recent YouGov poll for CBS News found more people now disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy than those who approve.
Meanwhile, an April 13 poll found that for the first time since May 2021, the GOP is now seen as less trustworthy than Democrats with the nation’s finances.
What People Are Saying
Colin Seeberger of think tank CAP Action Fund previously told Newsweek: “I think that the American people are registering an even greater hostility to MAGA-nomics as we’re looking at higher prices, higher borrowing costs, [and] a cooling economy that is making it harder for businesses to be able to hire workers.”
Thomas Gift, an associate professor of political science and director of the Centre on U.S. Politics at University College London, previously told Newsweek that Trump’s handling of the tariff situation has alienated many voters.
“Trump hasn’t earned himself many supporters with his handling of the tariff situation. It’s not only the policy that seems to irk voters, but also the apparent lack of strategy, the impulsive decision-making, and the inconsistent messaging from the White House. Trump has long built his brand on being a master dealmaker and a savvy businessman. However, the last several days have dealt a serious, huge blow to that image,” he said.
What Happens Next
Midterm elections are scheduled to take place, in the main, on November 3, 2026.
