With gas prices surging, more than eight in 10 Americans say pain at the pump is straining their household budgets — and a strong majority blames President Trump, according to the latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll. The survey of 1,322 respondents, conducted April 27–30, has a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points.
The poll finds Trump more unpopular than ever in the Marist series and shows notable declines with several groups that supported him after his second-term inauguration. Most respondents say the economy is not working for them, and the war in Iran — a major factor in rising fuel costs — is increasingly unpopular. Those trends give Democrats a clear midterm advantage: on a congressional ballot test, Democrats lead 52%–42%. Democrats also lead on voter enthusiasm, a key advantage in midterms when turnout typically falls.
Trump’s overall approval is 37% while 59% disapprove, the highest disapproval Marist has recorded for him across both terms. Strong disapproval stands at 51%, tied for his worst mark in the poll. Large drops show up across many voter segments, including Southern voters, households earning under $50,000, white men and women without college degrees, millennials, men, parents of children under 18, rural voters, and men in small cities and suburbs. Support has also slipped among white evangelical Christians and crossover groups such as younger voters and many Black and Latino voters.
Even Republican backing has softened. In February 2025, 88% of Republicans approved of Trump’s job performance and 10% disapproved (a +78 net rating). In the current poll, 81% of Republicans approve and 18% disapprove (a +63 net), a 15-point net decline in a little over a year.
Economy remains central to Trump’s ratings. Only 35% approve of his handling of the economy, tied for his worst mark in the poll. Multiple factors weigh on voters: tariffs, sustained prices higher than pre-pandemic levels, and the recent spike in gas prices after the Iran war. AAA reported a national average of $4.48 per gallon as of May 5; before the conflict, averages were below $3. As a result, 81% say current gas prices strain their household budget, including 79% of Republicans. By 63%–37%, respondents blame Trump for the recent increase in gas prices — including one-third of Republicans. A plurality also says the economy is not working well for them personally, the worst reading recorded in the survey.
Affordability concerns are widespread: 56% say their area is not very affordable or not affordable at all. Groups reporting the economy is not working for them include white non-college women (72%), those earning under $50,000 (71%), millennials (69%), and ages 18–29 (65%).
On technology, most respondents worry about AI’s effects on jobs: eight in 10 believe AI will eliminate more jobs than it creates, up 12 points from last year.
The Iran war and military action are unpopular and hurt Trump’s foreign-policy numbers. Approval for his handling of Iran sits at 33%, down from 36% in March. While 72% of Republicans approve of his Iran policy (a 7-point drop since March), the public overall says the military action in Iran has done more harm than good by a 61%–38% margin, including a quarter of Republicans. Sixty-two percent say Trump’s decisions have weakened the United States on the world stage.
Midterm picture: Democrats hold a 10-point advantage on the congressional ballot test (52%–42%), a margin that in past cycles has signaled a wave election, though fewer competitive seats exist due to gerrymandering and other factors. Democrats also show higher turnout enthusiasm: 61% of Democrats say they are “very enthusiastic” to vote versus 53% of Republicans. There is a 14-point enthusiasm gap between people who voted for Kamala Harris in 2024 and those who voted for Trump (61% vs. 47%). Independents are less motivated: just 38% say they are very enthusiastic, suggesting lower midterm turnout versus the presidential year; midterm turnout typically falls roughly 30% from presidential levels.
Groups most likely to report they are very enthusiastic to vote include people 60+ (68%), white college men (68%), white college graduates (64%), white college women (61%), people 45 and older (61%), college graduates overall (59%), whites (56%), white men without degrees (56%), those earning more than $50,000 (55%), and parents without children under 18 (55%).
Least likely to be very enthusiastic are ages 18–29 (34%), Gen Z (35%), millennials (37%), those earning under $50,000 (37%), people younger than 45 (37%), Black voters (39%), parents with children under 18 (40%), Latinos (42%), white women without degrees (45%), Trump voters (47%), and urban residents (47%). Young and nonwhite voters are important for Democrats; parents with young children, white women without degrees, and Trump voters are critical for Republican turnout.
Other notable findings:
– 74% support requiring government-issued photo ID to vote, including 51% of Democrats.
– 65% back requiring a passport or birth certificate to register to vote.
– 80% support a maximum age limit for members of Congress; 83% support term limits.
– A slim majority (53%) oppose automatic registration for the military’s Selective Service. Partisan split: 68% of Republicans favor automatic registration, while only 30% of Democrats do.
The poll underscores significant economic anxiety, broad public skepticism about the Iran conflict, declining approval for Trump across multiple groups, and a Democratic edge in the midterm landscape driven in part by greater enthusiasm among their voters.