American Optimism Hits All-Time Low Under Trump

Gallup poll shows sharp decline in expectations for future quality of life

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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A new Gallup poll has found that American optimism about the future has sunk to its lowest point in nearly two decades under President Trump. The National Health and Well-Being Index shows that the percentage of Americans who anticipate having a 'high-quality life' in the future has dropped by about 9 percentage points since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The decline has been particularly steep among Hispanic and Black adults, as well as Democrats, suggesting the impact of Trump administration policies.

Why it matters

The dramatic drop in public optimism reflects deep dissatisfaction with the direction of the country under Trump's leadership, with issues like high inflation, political turmoil, and global conflicts weighing heavily on Americans' outlook. The partisan divides revealed in the poll also underscore the nation's stark political polarization.

The details

The Gallup poll is based on four quarterly surveys conducted throughout 2025, involving 22,125 respondents. It found that roughly 62% of Americans currently rate their lives as a 7 or higher on a 10-point scale, while only about 59% expect their lives to reach an 8 or above in five years. This represents a 3.5 percentage point decline in overall optimism since 2024. Hispanic adults saw the sharpest drop, from 69% to 63%, while Democrats reported a 7.6 percentage-point decline in future expectations.

  • The poll was conducted throughout 2025.
  • The decline in optimism began in 2021-2022 as high inflation strained household budgets.
  • The slide has continued following Trump's return to office in 2025.

The players

Gallup

An American analytics and advisory company known for its public opinion polls and the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index, which has tracked public sentiment since 2008.

Dan Witters

The research director for the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index.

Donald Trump

The 45th and current President of the United States, who returned to office in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“I think that's disconcerting, and says a lot about the mood of the American public today.”

— Dan Witters, Research Director, Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index

“When Trump's out of office, I'm sorry, I can't vote Democratic generally, but if there's a Democrat that talks more sense than Trump's doing, then I'll probably vote for him.”

— Steve Egan, 65-year-old promotional product distributor in Tampa, Florida (Reuters)

What’s next

The November 2026 midterm elections will be a key test of voter sentiment, as Trump's policies and rhetoric continue to shape the political landscape.

The takeaway

The dramatic decline in public optimism under Trump's presidency reflects deep dissatisfaction with the direction of the country, with issues like high inflation, political turmoil, and global conflicts weighing heavily on Americans' outlook. The stark partisan divides revealed in the poll underscore the nation's ongoing political polarization.