‘Cracks are starting to show’: CNN host pounces on new Trump polling on crucial issue

CNN’s Kate Bolduan was startled by the latest polling on President Donald Trump and the economy.

A new survey conducted for CNN by SSRS finds that 77 percent of Americans, including a majority of Republicans, say the 79-year-old president’s policies are to blame for the increased cost of living, and his economic approval rating has hit a career-low 30 percent.

“The numbers revealing a deep anxiety about affordability, that word, and growing warning signs for President Trump, 73 percent describing economic conditions right now today as poor in the country,” Bolduan said. “That’s not a good outlook on what was once considered, of course, President Trump’s strongest issue. His approval rating on the economy has fallen to a new career low. Americans are worried full stop, worried about paying their bills, especially surprise ones. About two-thirds say in this new poll that they could not comfortably afford a $1,000 emergency expense.”

“On this most central issue of just being able to pay for everyday life,” she added, “cracks are starting to show among the president’s base.”

CNN’s David Chalian took a deeper dive into the survey results.”

“We know it is the thing coursing through the American electorate, more so than any other issue,” Chalian said. “This is top of mind for folks, as you noted in that bleak outlook, Americans have, that’s like five years running now. A pessimistic view of the economy. We’re really still dealing with sort of a post-Covid economy, and even while some structural things of the economy are strong, people are not feeling it in terms of what they’re paying and in terms of their feeling secure in their personal economy. You noted that a topline approval number for Trump’s handling of the economy, 30 percent approve. That is a record low across his entire time in public life, as you suggested, this used to be one of his strong suits.”

“Obviously, gas prices have been driving so much of that feeling of economic insecurity since the start of the Ian war, especially, but look at this number,” he added. “This is his approval rating, Trump’s approval rating on gas prices. He’s fallen below that 50 percent mark with his own party. I don’t recall the last time, maybe you do, where I saw a majority of Republicans disapproving of Donald Trump on an issue. They do so on gas prices and on inflation. It’s not much better, 60 percent of Republicans approve of how Donald Trump is handling inflation, 40 percent of Republicans disapprove of the president’s handling of this issue. The issue, by the way, that you recall, was the thing he ran on in 2024.”