Growing economic pessimism is gripping the United States as a majority of Americans now point to President Donald Trump's policies as the primary source of rising prices and a stagnating economy, according to a new analysis.
Pocketbook Pain Fuels Public Discontent
CNN's chief data analyst, Harry Enten, stated on Monday that Americans overwhelmingly feel prices are increasing in "each and every single part of their lives." This pervasive sense of financial strain has left people feeling like they cannot catch a break. The analyst explained that this direct experience with inflation is why voters dismiss Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's defense of the price hikes driven by Trump's controversial tariff policy.
Enten emphasized that the public's personal financial reality is the most powerful evidence. "The Treasury secretary can try and tell the people something, but they can feel in their pocketbooks," he said. "They, simply put, don't buy what he and this administration is selling when it comes to tariffs." Notably, a majority of Republicans share this skeptical view, signaling the broad reach of the economic pressure.
Rejecting the Blame Game
The administration's attempt to pin the affordability crisis on former President Joe Biden is also falling on deaf ears. Enten was unequivocal in his assessment of this strategy, repeatedly stating "No. No. No. No." He likened the effort to "trying to sell ice up at the North Pole," indicating that the argument is completely unconvincing to the American public.
The data provides a clear reason for this rejection. With the U.S. being nearly a year into the Donald Trump administration, voters now see the economy as his responsibility. A significant poll shows that 62% of Americans blame Trump for the current economic stagnation, while only 32% hold Biden responsible.
A Shifting Political Burden
This public sentiment marks a critical shift in political accountability. Enten concluded that the perception has solidified: "They say at this point, it is Donald Trump's economy and what is happening in terms of inflation is his responsibility." The direct link between policy and pocketbook issues is creating a formidable challenge for the administration as it tries to defend its economic record amidst widespread consumer discontent.
