A recent Harvard CAPS/Harris poll has revealed that a majority of Americans, 55 percent to be exact, continue to place their trust in the Republican party and the Trump administration's ability to manage the U.S. economy, as reported by the Western Journal.
This trust is extended despite the fact that 57 percent of voters believe that Trump is losing the battle against inflation, and 56 percent feel that his tariff policies are detrimental to the economy.
The poll, conducted online from December 2-4 among 2,204 registered U.S. voters by The Harris Poll and HarrisX, also found that 59 percent of voters consider inflation or the cost of living to be the most pressing economic issues. Interestingly, when asked to compare the current economy to that under the administration of former President Joe Biden, voters were evenly split, with 50 percent believing the economy was better or worse under each administration.
The poll further revealed that 52 percent of respondents attribute the economy's current state primarily to Trump's policies, while the remaining 48 percent believe it is largely due to Biden's influence. In a testament to the Republicans' perceived economic prowess, 62 percent of respondents felt that the GOP emerged victorious from this year's government shutdown battle, compared to 38 percent who sided with the Democrats. A significant 68 percent approved of the deal that concluded the longest-ever U.S. government shutdown in November.
However, it is worth noting that recent polls have suggested a growing pessimism among Americans regarding Trump's handling of the economy. A Gallup survey released in November indicated that voters' confidence in the economy had plummeted to a 17-month low. Additionally, some American business owners have expressed concerns that Trump's tariffs could potentially force businesses to increase consumer costs in the coming year.
Despite these concerns, Trump has remained confident in his economic policies. On December 2, he dismissed the term "affordability" as a "Democrat scam," implying his disbelief in the Democrats' desire to improve the U.S. economy. This statement came shortly after he declared himself the "affordability president" in a social media post on November 29.
During his 2024 campaign, Trump pledged to "make America affordable again" if re-elected, a sentiment echoed by Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters, who stated in a November 20 post that "the economy is booming" under Trump's leadership.
In a similar vein, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent projected in September that the economy would experience "substantial acceleration" by the end of the year. These statements, coupled with the results of the Harvard CAPS/Harris poll, suggest that despite some reservations, a majority of Americans continue to trust the Republican party and the Trump administration's ability to manage the U.S. economy effectively.
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