Inflation, debt and uncertainty: Americans blame Donald Trump

In 1992, James Carville, Bill Clinton's strategist, summed up the key to winning over voters in a now-famous phrase: "It's the economy, stupid!" While the economy remains the top concern of American voters, Donald Trump may have cause for concern. American consumers are struggling to make ends meet, and the majority blame Donald Trump. This is according to a Morning Consult poll published this Thursday, July 31, by the progressive think tank Century Foundation. The figures speak for themselves: six out of ten Americans believe that in just six months in office, the Trump administration has already had a negative impact on their cost of living.

While it's premature to talk about a repudiation of the American president, discontent seems to have spread to a substantial portion of the electorate. When asked about how they handle inflation , 61% of respondents said the former president had a negative impact on their purchasing power, and 63% on food prices. Nearly half of them (49%) even believe his policies have damaged their personal finances. "Millions of Americans, across all parties and backgrounds, are deeply anxious and struggling to pay for essentials, from housing to medical care. Donald Trump is exacerbating these difficulties," says Rachel West, a researcher at the Century Foundation and co-author of the study, interviewed by the British daily The Guardian.

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What do Americans think of the new tariffs, the spearhead of Donald Trump's policy? Not much is positive: nearly eight in ten Americans, including 70% of Republicans, see them as a source of concern and fear they will increase the price of everyday goods. For Julie Margetta Morgan, president of the Century Foundation and co-author of the study, the conclusion is clear: "Donald Trump has simultaneously driven up the prices of everyday goods with an irresponsible approach to tariffs, dismantled programs that help Americans pay for health care, education, food, and childcare, and weakened the federal regulators that prevent banks and big businesses from ripping off consumers," she told the British daily The Guardian.

It must be said that poverty is reaching worrying proportions in the country. The survey shows that almost one in two Americans admits to having difficulty paying a $500 bill (433 euros at the current exchange rate) without resorting to borrowing. These figures are accompanied by sometimes considerable sacrifices: 25% say they have skipped meals during the year to make ends meet, and 26% have fallen behind on paying their monthly bills. According to official statistics , 37.9 million Americans (11.5%) are affected by poverty, a figure that has tended to stagnate since Donald Trump's first term in 2017, despite sustained economic growth.

The Republican candidate's return to power in January 2025 has only made the situation worse, according to most Americans: more than six in ten respondents believe it has become more difficult to find a well-paying job, buy a home, or pay for childcare. Concern about food prices is massive: 83% of those surveyed say they are concerned, including 46% "very concerned." Nearly half (47%) fear they won't be able to pay their rent or mortgage, and 64% are worried about an unexpected medical expense. On a macroeconomic scale, pessimism dominates: 76% now fear an imminent recession.

Increasingly left to their own devices, Americans rely on makeshift safety nets: a proliferation of credit cards, short-term loans, installment payments, or student loans. "Companies have been given the green light to manipulate these products to increase their profits without regard for compliance with the law," adds Julie Margetta Morgan. Large corporations don't have a good reputation among Americans: 51% of those surveyed believe they have played an active role in the deterioration of daily life over the past 25 years, and 52% believe billionaires also bear some responsibility. "Americans believe the disproportionate influence of large corporations and the wealthy has made their lives harder," concludes Rachel West.