A significant shift is occurring within President Donald Trump's political base, as a new survey indicates a growing number of his own supporters are holding him accountable for the persistent affordability crisis.
Poll Reveals Voter Frustration on Economy
According to a Politico survey conducted by Public First, economic discontent is widespread, but notably cutting across partisan lines. The poll found that 37% of people who backed Trump in the 2024 election reported that the cost of living is the worst they can ever remember. For comparison, 53% of voters who supported Kamala Harris expressed the same sentiment.
More critically for the White House, the poll uncovered direct blame being placed on the current president. One in four Trump voters (25%) stated they believe Trump is either mostly or entirely responsible for the current higher prices.
White House Points Finger at Predecessor
The White House was quick to deflect this criticism, directing blame towards Trump's predecessor. In a statement to Politico, White House spokesperson Kush Desai framed the current economic challenges as a legacy issue.
"Cleaning up Joe Biden’s economic disaster has been a Day One priority for President Trump," Desai said. He added that the president is "just getting started implementing the policies that created historic economic prosperity in his first term" and assured that "Americans can rest assured that the best is yet to come."
A Growing Credibility Gap on Affordability?
While the administration asserts its economic plans are in motion, the president's recent rhetoric has raised questions about his engagement with the public's financial anxiety. During a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Trump referred to the affordability crisis as a "scam" and a Democrat-crafted "con-job."
In remarks to reporters, he downplayed the term itself, suggesting the word "affordability" "doesn’t mean anything to anybody." This stance appears to contrast sharply with the lived experiences of a substantial portion of the electorate, including those within his own coalition.
The poll data suggests that for many voters, particularly the 25% of Trump supporters expressing blame, the political narrative is colliding with the reality of grocery bills, housing costs, and other daily expenses. This internal dissent highlights the potent political risk of sustained high prices, regardless of which party occupies the Oval Office.
