Americans believe Democrats can handle the economy and cost of living better than Republicans, and most think President Donald Trump is not handling the U.S. economy well, according to a recently released poll.
Thirty-three percent of Americans believed Democrats have a better approach on the U.S. economy, and 35% believed Democrats are stronger on the cost of living, according to an Ipsos/Reuters poll conducted from July 29 to Aug. 3.
Only 31% of respondents preferred Republicans on the economy, and 27% did not know who they preferred. On the cost of living, only 27% preferred Republicans and 28% of respondents did not know.
Americans were also critical of Trump, where his overall approval rating in the poll sat at 35%, compared to 65% disapproval.
His approval fell from 37% in a Ipsos/Reuters poll conducted from July 24 to July 26. His disapproval hiked four points, as it sat at 61% in that last poll.
Here's how the poll released Aug. 3 broke down when it came to finances:
- On the economy, 63% of people disapproved of Trump’s handling, while 28% approved.
- On the cost of living, 70% of people disapproved of the president’s handling, while 23% approved.
- On inflation, 70% of people disapproved of Trump’s handling, while 22% approved.
Democrats are largely campaigning on "affordability" as the November midterms edge closer. On July 30, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer took to the Senate floor where he slammed Trump for calling affordability a "made up word."
"We’re going to keep fighting to bring down Americans’ costs and bring an end to Trump’s failed agenda that’s driving those costs up and up and up," Schumer said of his party.
In June, Senate Democrats released an affordability agenda, a House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said that the first bill from a Democratic majority would focus on affordability.
The president has slammed "affordability" as a concept manufactured by Democrats, arguing that inflation is down from the level under his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, while he touts the economy as a roaring success. Trump has argued that higher prices are a temporary strain in the U.S. war with Iran that are better than the alternative of Iran having a nuclear weapon.
On Aug. 3, the president addressed gas prices, saying Exxon and Chevron are "making too much money," calling for the companies to cut back the consumer price.
In the new poll, 28% of Americans said they approved of Trump's handling of Iran, while 60% disapproved. Similarly, only 30% approved of his U.S. foreign policy approach, while 58% disapproved.
Trump scored higher in favorability when it came to two of his main priorities, crime and immigration, but his disapproval ratings still outnumbered his support. On crime, 38% of people approved of Trump's handling, while only 50% disapproved. On immigration, the president also saw a 38% approval rate, but 54% of Americans disapproved.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Americans think Dems can handle economy better than GOP, new poll says
