Two-thirds of Americans say that the country is “pretty seriously off on the wrong track,” while just under a third say the country is moving in the right direction, according to an ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll conducted using Ipsos’ KnowledgePanel.
Overall, Americans seem unhappy and anxious, with a slim majority saying the economy has gotten worse since President Donald Trump took office and majorities saying that both major parties and the president are out of touch. A majority of Americans are also growing increasingly concerned over the government shutdown.
Far more Democrats (95%) and independents (77%) say the country is “pretty seriously off on the wrong track” than Republicans (29%), along with larger shares of Black (87%), Hispanic (71%) and Asian (71%) Americans than white Americans (61%). Majorities of Americans in urban, suburban and rural areas say the country is moving in the wrong direction, as well as those with varying levels of education and income.
Although 67% say the country is moving in the wrong direction, that is a decrease from November 2024, when 75% said the same in the lead-up to the presidential election.
About 6 in 10 Americans blame Trump for the current rate of inflation while more than 6 in 10 disapprove of how Trump is handling tariffs, the economy and managing the federal government; majorities also disapprove on how he is handling several other issues.
And 64% of Americans say Trump is “going too far” in trying to expand the power of the presidency.
