CNN Poll: 73% Say Trump Hasn't Focused on Top US Problems

A new CNN poll conducted by SSRS shows broad public frustration with the White House on affordability, the economy, and foreign policy, with numbers that could shape the political backdrop for markets heading into the 2026 midterms.

SPY traders are watching consumer sentiment closely as gas prices and everyday goods remain sticking points for households.

The Headline Number

A record-high 73% of US adults say that President Donald Trump hasn't paid enough attention to the country's most important problems, a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS finds, with just 27% saying he's had the right priorities.

That comes amid increasingly bleak views of the Iran war, stagnating economic unhappiness, and broad discontent about Trump's approach to these challenges. Roughly two-thirds of Americans think that Trump's policies have worsened economic conditions and that his military decisions in Iran have hurt the US.

Affordability Is the Pressure Point

On the most tangible economic fallout of the conflict in Iran, 74% of Americans say rising gas prices have caused them at least some hardship, up from 63% in March, with just under one-quarter believing the president has a plan to address the issue.

And 71% say Trump hasn't gone far enough in trying to reduce the price of everyday goods, up from 58% a year ago. That is the kind of shift that tends to show up in staples spending, discretionary pullbacks, and consumer-facing earnings calls.

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Approval at a Career Low

Trump's overall approval rating, 34%, matches the career low he last saw at the close of his first term, following the January 6, 2021, insurrection. Half of Americans now strongly disapprove of him, a high across his terms, with a record-low 15% strongly approving.

Around three-quarters say the president is not in touch with the problems ordinary Americans face in their daily lives. Weak approval historically raises the odds of policy pivots, which can move sectors dependent on tariffs, energy, and consumer relief measures. More on the political backdrop is available in other news.

Where the Trade Angle Sits

Persistent affordability complaints pressure the administration to lean on gas prices, grocery costs, and housing. That has knock-on effects for energy producers, refiners, and consumer staples — sectors where policy risk cuts both ways.

Just 39% of Americans approve of Trump's handling of immigration, a relative positive at the start of his second term, with 35% approving of his management of the federal government. Labor supply, wages, and government spending remain in the mix for macro-focused traders.

Options market and stocks to watch

Watch for reactions in consumer and energy names tied to affordability headlines:

WMT — watch for flow around low-price positioning if grocery costs stay in focus.

XOM — watch for reactions to any gas price intervention or energy policy shifts.

XLE — the broad energy ETF is exposed to gas price rhetoric on both sides.

XLP — consumer staples remain a barometer for household stress.

SPY — index-level sentiment tracks approval swings around midterm cycles.

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