Americans Skeptical of Trump's Claims of Booming Economy Ahead of Midterms

Reuters/Ipsos poll finds most Americans, including many Republicans, disagree with Trump's assessment of the economy.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows that most Americans, including a significant number of Republicans, do not believe the U.S. economy is 'booming' as President Donald Trump has claimed. The poll found that 68% of respondents disagreed with the statement that 'the U.S. economy is booming,' a key message Trump has repeated since returning to office in 2025. Republicans were sharply divided on the issue, with 56% agreeing the economy is booming but 43% disagreeing, a potential warning sign for the party ahead of the November midterm elections.

Why it matters

Trump's claims of a 'golden age' and 'roaring economy' are at odds with the lived experiences of many Americans, who cite the rising cost of living as their top concern heading into the midterms. This disconnect could hurt Republican candidates if voters feel the economy is not working for them, despite Trump's rhetoric.

The details

The Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only 16% of respondents agreed there is 'hardly any inflation,' contradicting Trump's assertion last month that 'inflation has been defeated.' Eighty-two percent of all respondents, and 72% of Republicans, disagreed with the lack of inflation claim. Many Americans also remain unaware of some of Trump's policy proposals to address the cost of living, such as restricting large investors from buying single-family homes and capping credit card interest rates.

  • The Reuters/Ipsos poll was completed on Monday, February 27, 2026.
  • Trump made his claim about the 'golden age' and 'roaring economy' in his State of the Union address on Tuesday, February 28, 2026.

The players

President Donald Trump

The incumbent U.S. president who has repeatedly claimed the economy is booming and that he has fixed inflation.

Marcus Tripp

A 53-year-old manufacturing worker in Dickson, Tennessee who leans Republican but is more worried about the rising cost of living than immigration issues.

Tiffany Ritchie

A 50-year-old independent voter from Corpus Christi, Texas who voted for Trump in 2024 but is unimpressed with his handling of the economy and does not believe tariffs will solve the country's economic problems.

Matt Van Epps

The Republican U.S. Representative for the district where Marcus Tripp lives, whose special election last fall was more competitive than expected as Democrats rallied to support the challenger.

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What they’re saying

“The economy is what he needs to be focused on. Even as a two-income household, we are struggling. I am worried more about how much my rent and everything is going up than I am about whether the guy down the street has citizenship documents or not.”

— Marcus Tripp, Manufacturing worker (Reuters)

“I'm not impressed by what's going on domestically. We're not going to tariff our way out of this.”

— Tiffany Ritchie, Independent voter (Reuters)

What’s next

Republicans and Democrats will begin to pick their candidates for November's midterm elections in primaries that start on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 in Texas, North Carolina and Arkansas.

The takeaway

Trump's rosy portrayal of the economy is at odds with the lived experiences of many Americans, who are more concerned about the rising cost of living than any claims of an economic boom. This disconnect could hurt Republican candidates in the upcoming midterm elections if voters feel the economy is not working for them, despite the president's rhetoric.