Many Americans Believe President Trump and Republicans in Congress Are Not on Their Side

As affordability is top of mind, Americans are drawing a clear distinction between each political party’s priorities. A majority say the Democratic Party is focused on the right things (52% right things – 41% wrong things), compared to just two-in-five who say the Republican Party is focused on the right things (40% right things – 55% wrong things). Only about a third of Americans feel that President Trump is focused on the right priorities (37% right things – 60% wrong things).

This has been a defining trend in Navigator’s tracking this year: while Americans want to focus on costs and the economy, they see Trump and Republicans in Congress focused elsewhere. 

As a result, Navigator has tracked its highest rate of Trump regret so far – one-in-four Americans (25%) who voted for President Trump in 2024 now regret their vote; many cite high costs, foreign wars, and immigration as reasons why. Strong majorities also now disapprove of President Trump’s handling of a range of key issues: 

• 73% disapprove of Trump’s handling of inflation and the cost of living, only 23% approve. 
• 76% disapprove of Trump’s handling of gas prices, only 20% approve. 
• 59% disapprove of Trump’s handling of healthcare, only 32% approve. 
• Even on immigration, a majority disapprove of Trump’s performance (55% disapprove – 41% approve). 

Democrats Are Viewed More Favorably, and Are Gaining Trust on Key issues

Both the Democratic Party and Democrats in Congress are viewed more favorably than their Republican counterparts and President Trump. Democrats in Congress, in particular, have a seven-point advantage against both Republicans in Congress and President Trump. Notably, the Democratic Party has also significantly grown a popularity advantage since the unpopular war with Iran began. 

Democrats have also both gained trust and moved trust away from Republicans on key issues, like inflation and the cost of living, jobs and the economy, and gas prices, while maintaining trust on healthcare. 

• On handling inflation and the cost of living, Democrats were at a two-point disadvantage in October 2025, but now hold a 17-point advantage.
• On handling jobs and the economy Democrats were at a three-point disadvantage in November 2025, but now hold a 10-point advantage. 
• On handling gas prices, Democrats held a four-point advantage in March 2026, but now hold a 16-point advantage. 
• On handling healthcare, Democrats hold a near 20-point advantage, a lead they have maintained since the government shutdown in 2025 where healthcare was a key issue. 

Over the last year, Democrats also made significant gains in Americans’ perception that they can get things done. In October 2025, Democrats were at a 10-point disadvantage when it comes to perception of getting things done. Now, in October 2026, Democrats hold a five-point advantage. 

Even on issues Republicans have traditionally been more trusted – like immigration – Navigator’s latest tracking shows a three-point Democratic advantage, compared to a five-point disadvantage from February of this year. 

However, these Democratic gains exist alongside continued skepticism of both parties, as many still trust neither party on a range of issues.

More See Democrats As Aligned with Their Values, While Republican Actions Raise Serious Concerns

Americans view the Democratic Party as more aligned with both their personal values (42% Democratic Party – 36% Republican Party) and their views on issues and policies (43% Democratic Party – 36% Republican Party). 

Nearly two-in-three say Republicans give too many tax breaks to the rich (64% say describes the Republican Party well) and cut too many critical programs like healthcare and food assistance (63% say describes the Republican Party well).

Americans also see Republicans as corrupt and just doing whatever Trump wants (62% say describes the Republican Party well), contrasting with perceptions of the Democratic Party: 

• By 14-points Americans say “corrupt” better describes Republicans than Democrats. A majority (56%) say “corrupt” describes the Republican Party well, while less than half (42%) say it describes the Democratic Party well. 
• By nine-points Americans say not standing for “people like me” better describes Republicans than Democrats. A majority (52%) say it describes the Republican Party well, while 43% say it describes the Democratic Party well. 
• By eight-points Americans say that being “too extreme” better describes Republicans than Democrats. A majority (52%) say it describes the Republican Party well, while 44% say it describes the Democratic Party well.

However, Democratic advantages on these traits do not necessarily translate to belief Democrats can deliver. While Americans better trust Democrats to get things done by a narrow margin (38% trust Democratic Party – 33% trust Trump and the Republican Party – 28% don’t know/trust neither), many still say “get nothing done” describes both parties well. A majority (53%) say that Republicans “get nothing done,” while a plurality (48%) agree that this also describes the Democratic Party well. A majority also see Democrats as just focused on opposing Trump (56% describes the Democratic Party well).