Poll: 71% of Americans say their country is heading in the wrong direction

A poll by NBC News shows that 71% of Americans believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, 66% disapprove of Trump's presidential performance, and 55% intend to vote for Democrats in the midterm elections.

A poll conducted by NBC News shows that 71% of Americans believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, the highest percentage during Trump's second presidential term that began in January 2025. The poll surveyed 19,135 adults between September 28 and October 12, 2026. 66% of participants expressed disapproval of Trump's presidential performance, while 34% approved. More than half of participants said Trump's policies "mostly harm the country." The poll showed that the economy is the issue participants care about most. When asked which party they would vote for in their congressional districts, 55% chose the Democratic Party compared to 45% for the Republican Party. However, 43% expressed positive views of the Democratic Party versus 57% negative views, while positive views of the Republican Party stood at 37%.