US Wellbeing Plummets Under Trump Administration

Surveys show steep declines in consumer sentiment and national happiness amid economic turmoil and social media harms

Apr. 11, 2026 at 1:52am

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A cinematic, photorealistic painting of a deserted city street at dusk, with warm sunlight and deep shadows creating a melancholic, nostalgic atmosphere that evokes the troubled state of the country.The stark urban landscape reflects the somber mood of a nation grappling with declining wellbeing and economic uncertainty.Los Angeles Today

Two recent surveys have revealed a significant drop in Americans' self-reported wellbeing under the Trump administration. The University of Michigan's Survey of Consumers showed consumer sentiment hitting an all-time low, with many blaming the administration's war in Iran and resulting economic disruptions. Meanwhile, the Gallup World Happiness Report found the US falling out of the rankings of the 20 happiest countries, largely due to the negative mental health impacts of social media use among young adults. Experts say these findings paint a troubling picture of the country's overall wellbeing.

Why it matters

The steep declines in consumer sentiment and national happiness reported in these surveys reflect deep-seated challenges facing the US under the Trump administration, from economic instability and military conflicts to the mental health crisis exacerbated by social media. These trends have wide-ranging implications for the country's future prosperity and social cohesion.

The details

The University of Michigan's Survey of Consumers found consumer sentiment dropping by 11% since March, with 'demographic groups across age, income, and political party all posting setbacks.' Many consumers blamed the administration's war in Iran for 'unfavorable changes to the economy,' including a over 20% spike in gas prices. Meanwhile, the Gallup World Happiness Report cited 'lower life evaluations among young adults' and the 'diverse and vast' harms of social media use as key factors in the US falling out of the top 20 happiest countries.

  • The University of Michigan survey was released on Friday, April 11, 2026.
  • The Gallup World Happiness Report was released in early 2026.

The players

University of Michigan

The institution that conducted the monthly Survey of Consumers, which showed a significant drop in consumer sentiment in the US.

Gallup

The research organization that publishes the annual World Happiness Report, which found the US falling out of the rankings of the 20 happiest countries.

Donald Trump

The former US president whose administration's policies and actions are cited as contributing factors in the decline of American wellbeing.

Heather Long

The chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union who noted that the latest consumer sentiment data showed Americans are even more pessimistic about the economy than they were during the high-inflation period in 2022.

Kendall Witmer

The rapid response director of the Democratic National Committee who accused Trump of 'tanking the economy for working families.'

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What they’re saying

“Many consumers blame the Iran conflict for unfavorable changes to the economy, such as a major spike in gas prices.”

— University of Michigan Survey of Consumers

“Americans are drowning under rising costs, flat wages, high unemployment, and historic layoffs. It's no wonder they're concerned about how they're going to make ends meet and Trump and [Vice President] JD Vance can't be bothered to make life more affordable for them.”

— Kendall Witmer, Rapid Response Director, Democratic National Committee

“There is now overwhelming evidence of severe and widespread direct harms (such as sextortion and cyberbullying), and compelling evidence of troubling indirect harms (such as depression and anxiety) from social media use, adding that the harms and risks to individual users are so diverse and vast in scope that they justify the view that social media is causing harm at a population level.”

— Gallup World Happiness Report

What’s next

The Biden administration is expected to take steps to address the economic and social challenges highlighted by these surveys, including potential new regulations on social media companies and efforts to stabilize the economy in the wake of the Trump-era conflicts.

The takeaway

These surveys paint a troubling picture of the steep decline in American wellbeing under the Trump administration, driven by a combination of economic turmoil, military conflicts, and the mental health impacts of social media. Restoring the country's overall sense of wellbeing will be a major challenge for the Biden administration and the nation as a whole.