Donald Trump gets warning sign economy voters
The year has begun with a warning signal for President Donald Trump, as voters are expressing increasing unease about the state and trajectory of the economy under his watch.
According to a recent survey conducted by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, a nonpartisan think tank focused on the country’s economic health, “fiscal confidence” is lower than this time last year. The monthly Index now sits at 51, compared with the neutral benchmark of 100 and a score of 57 in January 2025.
Why It Matters
Several polls have already revealed waning confidence in Trump’s stewardship of the U.S. economy, despite the president’s own convictions, as households continue to grapple with rising prices and a weakening labor market defined by sluggish hiring and mounting job losses.
With the economy and constituent issues like inflation and employment ranking highly among voters’ concerns, several experts and Republican figures have warned that this broad-based pessimism could hurt the party’s chances in this year’s midterm elections.
What To Know
The think tank conducted its survey among 1,004 registered voters between December 15 and 17, and the results reveal not only declining confidence about America’s general fiscal health, but also specific concerns regarding the national debt.
Over three quarters (77 percent) said their fears about the country’s $38-trillion debt had increased over the past few years, and 55 percent said the U.S. is heading in the wrong direction when it comes to addressing this issue. Additionally, 79 percent agreed that dealing with the national debt should be among the president and Congress’ top three priorities, while 82 percent say more time should be devoted to these efforts.
But the January score of 51 on the fiscal confidence index compares favorably to the beginning of years before Trump’s tenure—41 in 2024 and 40 in 2023—despite the issue becoming seemingly more prevalent in 2025.
As the Peter G. Peterson Foundation notes, Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act has been widely interpreted as a deficit-boosting piece of tax legislation, and there are few indications that America’s fiscal direction is set for a major change any time soon.
What People Are Saying
Michael A. Peterson, CEO of the Peterson Foundation, wrote in the report: “As the new year begins, voters are understandably concerned about America’s fiscal direction. The rapidly rising debt puts upward pressure on inflation and interest rates, driving up the cost of living and harming economic growth. Looking ahead to this election year, it will be critically important for candidates to engage voters on solutions that will help stabilize the debt and build a stronger, more prosperous 2026 and beyond.”
What Happens Next
Partly reflecting what has been repeatedly diagnosed as a political reluctance to tackle the national debt, 58 percent of the voters polled said they expect America’s fiscal health to deteriorate over the next few years, compared with 38 who expect it to improve.
