“Worse Than Biden”: New Poll Delivers Brutal Wake-Up Call for Trump on the Economy
A new survey suggests voters are increasingly conflicted about the state of the U.S. economy, raising fresh questions about how economic perceptions could shape the political landscape ahead of the midterm elections.
The latest Harvard CAPS–Harris Poll, conducted January 28–29 among 2,000 registered voters by The Harris Poll and HarrisX, found that 53 percent of respondents believe the economy is worse today than it was under President Joe Biden, while 47 percent say it is better. That marks a three-point shift since December and hints at a subtle but meaningful cooling in optimism surrounding President Donald Trump’s return to office.
The poll also found that 63 percent of voters attribute the current state of the economy primarily to the Trump administration’s policies, while 37 percent place responsibility on Biden. That represents an 11-point drop since December in the share of voters who blamed Biden for current conditions.
On the broader question of presidential performance, opinion has flipped over the past year. In February 2025, 58 percent of voters said Trump had done a better job as president compared to 42 percent for Biden. By January 2026, that balance had reversed, with 51 percent now favoring Biden and 49 percent choosing Trump.
There were some signs of improving sentiment. Thirty-eight percent of voters said the country is on the right track, up slightly from 36 percent in December. More than one-third of respondents also reported that their personal financial situation is improving, suggesting a divergence between national mood and individual experience.
Voters were nearly evenly split when asked to describe the economy’s strength, with 51 percent calling it strong and 49 percent describing it as weak. That divide highlights how perceptions of the same economic data can vary sharply depending on political outlook and messaging.
Poll analysts noted that inflation remains the dominant concern for voters, and even small price increases can outweigh improvements in wages or employment in shaping public opinion. Trump’s lowest ratings in the survey were tied to inflation and trade, two issues closely linked to how voters assess economic performance.
A spokesperson for the White House previously told Newsweek that Trump is delivering “by every metric,” citing cooling inflation, accelerating GDP growth, and a sealed border as evidence of progress. Trump also defended his standing on Truth Social last week, writing, “My polling is highest ever,” while criticizing what he called “fake and fraudulent polling.”
Mark Penn, co-director of the Harvard CAPS–Harris poll, said the results show Americans feeling that “the economy is sagging and inflation raging, even though economic statistics show the opposite.” Republican pollsters noted that Trump continues to hold strong support among blue-collar voters and many independents, though there are signs of weakness among younger women.
With the midterms approaching, both parties are expected to sharpen their focus on affordability, wage growth, and price stability. If voters continue to feel personally better off while remaining skeptical about the national economy, turnout and late-breaking economic perceptions could play a decisive role in determining control of Congress.
