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By Sam Stevenson
Associate News Editor
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President Donald Trump has received failing marks across every major issue tested in a new national poll, underscoring growing voter dissatisfaction as his second term enters a volatile stretch.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told Newsweek in a statement, “What matters most to the American people is having a Commander-in-Chief who takes decisive action to eliminate threats and keep them safe, which is exactly what President Trump did with the successful Operation Epic Fury.”
Why It Matters
The results land amid an ongoing war with Iran and heightened political pressure ahead of the 2026 elections.
Read More on Politics
Weak results on core governing issues such as the economy, inflation and foreign policy could pose risks for the GOP heading into the midterms, where voters often use congressional races to register dissatisfaction with the party in power.
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What To Know
A new Issues & Insights/TIPP survey found Trump receiving an “F” grade across all issues measured, reflecting broad voter dissatisfaction tied to the economy, foreign policy and cost‑of‑living concerns.
On Trump’s overall performance as president, 36 percent of respondents gave him an F—the largest share for any letter grade—compared with 37 percent who awarded him an A or B.
The survey was a national online poll of 1,464 adults conducted from March 31 to April 2 and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points.
The survey was published on April 7 and comes as public debate intensifies over the administration’s handling of international conflict and domestic economic pressures.
Issues & Insights partners with the TechnoMetrica Institute of Policy and Politics (TIPP) on its polling.
The firm is often cited as one of the most accurate pollsters based on past election‑cycle performance, including assessments that compare pre‑election surveys with final outcomes.
While Republican support for Trump remains stronger than among independents and Democrats, the across‑the‑board failing grades signal erosion beyond any single issue area.
The poll does not isolate one dominant concern, instead pointing to dissatisfaction spanning multiple parts of the president’s agenda.
As in previous months, the survey asked respondents to assign letter grades—A through F, with the latter being the worst rating—to Trump for his handling of 16 domestic and international issues, as well as for his overall performance as president.
Inflation and the cost of living drew the harshest assessments, with 38 percent of respondents assigning Trump a failing grade.
Handling the economy followed closely, where 36 percent gave Trump a failing grade, and 31 percent awarded him an A or B, respectively.
A total of 36 percent also assigned Trump an F grade for his handling of government spending. And health care also registered high dissatisfaction, with 33 percent assigning an F.
The Russia‑Ukraine war similarly saw 33 percent of respondents give Trump a failing grade, while 31 percent did so for taxes and 32 percent for jobs and employment.
On education, 29 percent assigned Trump an F, while handling China drew a 26 percent failing share.
Even Trump’s stronger issue areas showed the same pattern. Immigration and border security, his highest‑rated topic in terms of A and B grades, still saw 31 percent of respondents give him an F.
Handling violence and crime in the country recorded 30 percent failing grades.
Foreign policy results were similarly mixed. While Trump received comparatively higher marks from some respondents for handling the U.S.-Iran conflict, 37 percent still assigned a failing grade—the single highest F percentage among all issues.
The chart’s grading scale reflects the share of respondents assigning A to F grades to each issue, offering a consistent snapshot of where approval is concentrated versus where dissatisfaction is more pronounced.
What People Are Saying
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told Newsweek in an emailed statement: “What matters most to the American people is having a Commander-in-Chief who takes decisive action to eliminate threats and keep them safe, which is exactly what President Trump did with the successful Operation Epic Fury.
“President Trump campaigned proudly on his promise to deny the Iranian regime the ability to develop a nuclear weapon, which is what this noble operation accomplishes. The President does not make these incredibly important national security decisions based on fluid opinion polls, but on the best interest of the American people.”
What Happens Next
Additional polling ahead of the midterms will help determine whether this snapshot reflects a temporary dip or a more durable trend.
Update 04/08/26, 12:31 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from the White House.
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