POLL SHOCKER–Democrats’ Trust PLUMMETS

Americans refuse to trust Democrats in Congress more than President Trump to handle the nation’s biggest problems, even amid tough polls—exposing the radical left’s total failure after years of open borders and economic chaos.

Story Snapshot

ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll shows trust split: 33% favor Trump over Democrats (31%), with 31% trusting neither—narrowing from Trump’s prior 7-point lead.
Majorities disapprove of Trump’s handling of inflation (65%), tariffs (64%), foreign relations (62%), immigration (58%), and economy (57%), yet Democrats gain no ground.
Trump holds a 4-point edge on immigration trust, vindicating conservative border priorities against leftist open-border disasters.
64% view both parties as out of touch, fueling frustration with government overreach and fiscal mismanagement.
MAGA Republicans (54% of GOP) stand firm, while non-MAGA and independents drive the divide ahead of State of the Union.

Poll Reveals Trump’s Disapproval Peaks

The ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll, conducted February 12-17, 2026, via Ipsos’ KnowledgePanel, reports President Trump’s overall disapproval at 60%—the highest of his second term starting January 2025. Majorities reject his approaches to inflation at 65%, tariffs at 64%, foreign relations at 62%, immigration at 58%, and the economy at 57%. This data precedes the Supreme Court’s February 20 tariff ruling, capturing early second-term pressures. Economic pessimism persists, with 48% saying conditions worsened since Trump’s return, echoing 52% in October 2025. Such figures highlight challenges from prior Biden-era inflation and globalist policies that conservatives warned against.

Trust Battle Exposes Democratic Weakness

Americans split on trust for handling main problems: 33% prefer Trump, 31% Democrats, and 31% neither—a tie that underscores Democratic vulnerabilities despite Trump’s lows. On cost-of-living issues, trust divides evenly, but Trump leads by 4 points on immigration, affirming conservative stances on border security over leftist amnesty pushes. Both parties face 64% “out of touch” ratings, reflecting public exhaustion with overspending and illegal immigration under past Democrat control. Independents and non-MAGA Republicans fuel the split, rejecting radical agendas.

Partisan Divides and GOP Internal Dynamics

MAGA Republicans, comprising 54% of the GOP, approve Trump across issues, sustaining his base amid broader disapproval. Non-MAGA Republicans (42%) back him on borders and economy but criticize inflation and tariffs, revealing fractures exploited by media. Democrats fail to capitalize, with no trust advantage despite perceptions of Trump’s mental sharpness doubts at 56% and “not honest” at 70%. This mirrors Biden’s peaks but exceeds them, yet conservatives see it as resistance to elite attacks on Trump after defeating Harris in 2024. The poll, released late February, precedes Trump’s State of the Union and primaries.

Historical precedents show Trump’s first-term lows matched 2021 exits, with consistent partisan gaps since 2017 polls. February 2025 saw 57% viewing Trump as exceeding authority, rising to 65% now—concerns conservatives attribute to deep-state resistance against draining the swamp.

Implications for 2026 Midterms and Beyond

Short-term, the trust tie challenges Trump’s messaging ahead of primaries, sustaining MAGA vs. non-MAGA debates without Democratic rebound. Long-term, persistent distrust and health/honesty doubts could impact 2026 midterms and 2028, eroding mandates amid 65% overreach views. Public pain from inflation and tariffs hits families, reinforcing calls for limited government and fiscal sanity. Immigration remains Trump’s strength, countering years of Biden-Harris border crises that flooded communities with illegals.