Majority of Voters Agree with Trump on Economy, Believe US Is Headed in the Wrong Direction

New national polls released Sunday indicate that most voters believe Donald Trump is right about the economy and the country’s direction.

However, Vice President Kamala Harris is gaining momentum, significantly increasing her popularity and voter support.

Voters Trust Trump More on the Economy

According to a national NBC News poll, 65% of likely voters feel the country is heading in the wrong direction. A majority trust Trump more on economic issues, with 50% favoring him compared to 41% who support Harris. A separate CBS News/YouGov poll found that 59% of voters rated the economy as “bad” compared to just 39% who viewed it as “good.”

Despite voters’ negative views of the economy, both polls showed Harris making significant gains. Respondents to the NBC poll favoured Harris 49% to 44%, while the CBS poll, which did not include third-party candidates, showed Harris ahead by a similar margin of 52% to 48%.

Harris’s Favourability Surges Since July

The NBC poll results highlight a sharp turnaround from July when Trump held a two-point lead over President Biden, 45% to 43%. Since then, Harris’s popularity has surged, increasing by 16 percentage points and earning the highest favorability ratings for a vice president since George W. Bush’s post-9/11 surge. Harris’s current ratings are 48% favourable and 45% negative, a significant improvement from July, when her positive ratings were just 32%.

Kamala Harris has pivoted dramatically from some of the far-left policy stances she took during the 2020 campaign. KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

In contrast, Trump’s ratings remain steady, with 53% viewing him negatively and 40% positively, showing little change in his standing among voters. Despite Harris’s gains, only 28% of respondents felt the country was heading in the right direction.

Economic Concerns Dominate Voter Sentiment

The top issue for voters continues to be the economy, with 66% of respondents indicating that their family’s income is falling behind the cost of living. On inflation and the cost of living, Trump holds a 48% to 41% advantage over Harris. Trump also leads on other key issues, including border security (54% to 33%) and crime (47% to 41%).

However, Harris holds an edge over Trump on topics such as getting the country on the right track (47% to 43%), representing change (47% to 38%), and abortion rights (54% to 33%).

Voters Split on Impact of Harris-Trump Debate

The recent September 10 debate between Harris and Trump on ABC News had mixed impacts on voters. According to the NBC poll, 57% said the discussion made no difference in their decision, 29% felt more likely to support Harris, and 12% backed Trump.

The NBC poll shows that 48% of respondents prefer Democrats to be in charge of congressional control, while 46% favor Republicans.

CBS Poll Reflects Similar Trends Favouring Trump on the Economy

The CBS News/YouGov poll also showed voters leaning towards Trump on economic matters. Among those who view the economy as a critical factor, 53% support Trump, compared to 47% for Harris. This marks a shift from August, when Trump led Harris 56% to 43% on economic issues.

Despite these economic concerns, Harris leads Trump nationally (52% to 48%) and in battleground states (51% to 49%), a change from August when both candidates were tied at 50%.

The vice president managed to turn around the vibe among many Democrats who had feared President Biden would lose. Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Controversy Surrounds Trump’s Claims During Debate

One moment from the debate that caught widespread attention was Trump’s claim that Haitian migrants were eating cats and dogs in Springfield, Ohio—a statement that local officials have vehemently denied. According to the NBC poll, 63% of voters believe the claim is false, though 69% of Trump’s supporters think it is true.

The CBS poll further revealed that 53% of voters favour Trump’s plan to deport illegal immigrants, while 47% oppose it. Additionally, 71% of voters feel American democracy is threatened, compared to 29% who believe it is secure.

Donald Trump outperformed the polls in 2016 and 2020. KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Countdown to Election Day

With Election Day just 44 days away, the latest polls reflect a nation deeply divided on critical issues. While Trump retains strong support on economic matters, Harris’s rising popularity and gains in battleground states set the stage for a highly competitive election.

The NBC News poll was conducted between September 13 and 17, surveying 1,000 registered voters with a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points. The CBS News/YouGov poll sampled 3,129 registered voters between September 18 and 20, with a margin of error of ±2.2 percentage points. Voters will cast their ballots on November 5.