Half of Americans Are Struggling to Afford Food – and They Blame Trump
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As President Donald Trump continues to dismiss the nation’s affordability crisis as a “Democratic scam” — a claim he has offered no clear explanation for — new polling shows that more than half of Americans are struggling to pay for basic necessities.
A fresh survey from Politico and Public First reveals that nearly half of respondents say they are finding it difficult to afford their groceries. And a majority of them, 55 percent, blame the Trump administration for the rising costs.
The financial strain extends well beyond food. According to the poll, 27 percent of Americans have skipped a doctor’s appointment or routine checkup in the past two years because it was too expensive.
Another 23 percent say they declined a prescription due to cost concerns. Overall, nearly half of those surveyed report that health care has become difficult to afford under current conditions.
The data underscores a troubling trend: voters are increasingly tying their economic hardships to Trump’s policies, despite his aggressive push to frame affordability concerns as political theater.
That messaging appears to be falling flat. Even among Trump’s own supporters, skepticism is growing. Only 36 percent of his voters believe his sweeping tariffs will ultimately work in their favor.
This disconnect comes as Trump has shifted sharply away from his 2024 campaign promise to prioritize affordability, instead rejecting the issue outright and insisting the country’s economic worries are exaggerated.
But for millions of Americans facing rising grocery bills, medical costs and everyday expenses, the crisis is very real—and the polling suggests they are not buying Trump’s narrative.
If these trends persist, the GOP could face mounting political pressure heading into the 2026 midterm elections, where affordability may prove to be a defining issue.
