Three-quarters of Americans think Trump isn’t focusing on top US issues – poll

Three-quarters of Americans believe Donald Trump is not paying enough attention to the country’s most important problems, and two-thirds think he places himself above the needs of the US, according to a new poll.

The CNN survey, conducted by the market research company SSRS, comes less than 100 days before November’s midterm elections in which the president’s Republican party is widely expected to lose control of one or both chambers of Congress.

Trump’s overall approval rating has slumped to 34%, the poll found, matching his previous lowest immediately following the 6 January 2021 insurrection he incited trying to cling on to power after losing the 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden.

The figure reflects growing dismay at the ongoing war in Iran – only 28% approve of Trump’s actions there, and even fewer, 25%, say the conflict has been worth it in terms of cost and American lives lost; meanwhile, the war’s effects at home are also causing disquiet, with 74% saying rising gas prices have caused at least some hardship, up from 63% in March.

In the parallel poll a year ago, 58% of respondents said Trump had not gone far enough in trying to reduce the price of everyday goods, a figure that has climbed to 71% this week.

Even Trump’s hardline immigration policies, previously a bright spot for his approval ratings, are dragging the president down. Only 39% believe he is doing a good job, and 54% say he has gone too far in mass deporting undocumented immigrants.

Overwhelmingly, Americans are outraged by Trump stamping his personality on the presidency. His pursuit of a taxpayer-funded White House ballroom, botched renovation of the Washington DC reflecting pool, and plans for a self-aggrandizing ceremonial arch, have left only 17% feeling positive.

In direct contrast, asked if Trump was in touch with problems Americans face in their everyday lives, 73% said no.

Only 38% of those polled consider him to be an effective world leader; and 57% say the 80-year-old president lacks the stamina and sharpness to serve effectively.