Associated Press-NORC survey finds 26% approve Trump’s economy handling

US Supreme Court rejects Trump’s bid to restrict mail-in ballots

A recent Associated Press-NORC survey found that 26% of voters approved of Donald Trump’s handling of the economy. The Guardian cited that result in an assessment that framed the economy, Iran, immigration, Trump’s use of power, artificial intelligence and data centers, and democracy as six issues shaping the 2026 US midterm elections.

The Guardian said next month’s elections would test Trump’s second term and determine whether Democrats regain political power in Washington. Polls cited by The Guardian showed Trump’s approval ratings at their lowest levels across his two presidencies; The Guardian attributed those ratings to widespread economic dissatisfaction and an unpopular war against Iran.

The election will take place amid uncertainty over whether Trump will try to interfere with the vote, The Guardian said. The US Supreme Court last month rejected Trump’s bid to restrict mail-in ballots, according to The Guardian. The Guardian said the ruling triggered an intensification of Trump’s election-fraud accusations and characterized them as “unfounded.”

Although Trump is not on the ballot, he has told voters to pretend that he is, The Guardian said. The Guardian said his visibility makes his character and exercise of power central issues as his administration faces career-low approval ratings, controversies over corruption allegations and building projects he favors. The Guardian reported that Democrats have framed the midterms as an opportunity to rein in the president.

The Guardian reported that the economy consistently ranked as voters’ top concern despite Trump’s 2024 campaign pledge to tackle affordability issues. The recent Associated Press-NORC result put Trump two percentage points below Joe Biden’s worst ratings on the issue.

The Guardian reported that immigration enforcement and closure of the southern border remain signature issues for Trump. Trump has repeatedly cited the closure as one of his biggest achievements and compared the result with Joe Biden’s record. The Guardian said the political mood shifted after high-profile violent incidents involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection agents, which “have fed a perception that the immigration crackdown has ‘gone too far’.”

Surveys cited by The Guardian showed that artificial intelligence had emerged as a key campaign issue and that a majority of voters viewed it negatively. Trump champions its development and has attempted to rename it “super intelligence.” Polls cited by The Guardian showed that up to 70% of Americans oppose construction of AI data centers in their areas.

The Guardian reported that Trump’s decision to go to war with Iran exacerbated economic worries. Iran’s retaliatory decision to close the Strait of Hormuz drove up gasoline prices for US motorists.

The Guardian reported that Democrats and some Republicans have complained that Trump embarked on military action without congressional authorization. The Guardian wrote of the war, “It also represents a breach of his pledge to end the US’s supposed addiction to ‘forever wars’.”