May 6, 2026
President Trump While at War, May 2026
Dissatisfaction with President Trump's Handling of Iran Up... Trump Approval Rating in High 30s.
An increasing proportion of Americans now report they disapprove of how President Donald Trumps is handling Iran, and more than six in ten say U.S. military action in Iran has done more harm than good. Though his overall job approval rating remains in the high 30s, dissatisfaction with how President Trump is handling the economy has inched up. Digging deeper into the economy, a majority of Americans say the area in which they live is either not very affordable or not affordable at all and many do not think the economy is working well for them. They also feel financial strain due to rising gas prices, and more than six in ten blame President Trump for that increase. In this midterm election year, Democratic congressional candidates maintain a healthy lead against Republicans on the generic congressional ballot question.
60% of Americans disapprove of how President Trump is handling Iran, up from 54% in March. 33% approve, and 7% are unsure. More than seven in ten Republicans (72%) approve of the president’s approach. However, more members of the GOP now disapprove (22%, up from 15%) than in March.
61% of Americans, including 25% of Republicans, say U.S. military action in Iran has done more harm than good. 38% think it has done more good than harm.
62% of Americans, up from 57% in January, think the United States' role on the world stage has been weakened due to President Trump's decisions. 38% say it has been strengthened.
22% of Republicans, up from 11% in January, believe the United States' position globally has deteriorated due to the president's actions.
61% of residents nationally disapprove of how President Trump is handling the economy, up slightly from 58% in March. 35% of Americans currently approve, and 5% are unsure. Among Republicans, 23% disapprove of the president's approach toward the economy, up from 17%.
37% of Americans approve of the president's overall job performance. 59% disapprove, and 4% are unsure. More Republicans (18%) now disapprove of President Trump's overall job performance than in March (12%). Americans are more than twice as likely to strongly disapprove of the president's job performance (51%) than to strongly approve (24%) of it.
Majority of Americans Consider Local Cost of Living Not Affordable
A majority of Americans say their local cost of living is not very affordable (44%) or not affordable at all (12%). 40%, up from 26% around the holidays in December of 2025, consider the area where they live to be affordable, and an additional 4% report it is very affordable.
A majority of Republicans (51%) say the local cost of living is affordable while nearly half of Democrats (48%) say it is not very affordable. A majority of independents (51%) consider the area where they live to be not very affordable.
More Than Six in Ten Say Economy is Not Working Well for Them Personally
More than six in ten residents (63%) do not believe the U.S. economy is working well for them. 37% believe that the economy is benefiting them. There has been little change on this question since December.
More Than Eight in Ten Feeling Pain at the Pump… Many Blame the President
More than eight in ten Americans say they feel either a major (33%) or minor strain (48%) on their household budget due to the current price of gas. About one in five (19%) report they feel no strain at all.
Who do Americans blame for the increase in gas prices? 63% of residents nationally place a great deal or good amount of blame on President Trump. This includes 89% of Democrats, 32% of Republicans, and 63% of independents. 37% place little or no blame for the increased price of gas on the president.
AI to Eliminate More Jobs Than It Creates, Say Nearly Eight in Ten
79% of U.S. residents think Artificial Intelligence (AI) will eliminate more jobs than it will create. This is a marked increase from 67% in July of 2025. 20%, though, say AI will create more jobs than it will eliminate, down from 33%.
Younger generations are more likely than older generations to say AI will foster job creation. More than one in four members of GenZ (26%) have this view compared with 23% of Millennials, 19% of Gen X, and 16% of Baby Boomers/Silent/Greatest Generation. Men (25%) are also more likely than women (16%) to say AI will have a positive impact on jobs.
Democrats +10 on Generic Congressional Ballot
When thinking about this year’s congressional midterm elections. a majority of registered voters nationally (52%) say they are more likely to vote for the Democrat on the ballot in their district than the Republican candidate (42%). Four percent say they plan to support another candidate, and 2% are unsure. When last reported in March, the Democrat on the ballot (53%) was +9 percentage points against the Republican candidate (44%). Among independent voters, the Democratic candidate receives 49% to 37% for the Republican. 10% plan to support another candidate.
About Eight in Ten Americans Support Age & Term Limits for Congress
Minimum age requirements currently exist for congressional candidates, but maximum age limits are not in place. And eight in ten Americans say they should be. 80% strongly support or support imposing a maximum age limit for candidates running for the Senate or House of Representatives. 20% oppose or strongly oppose those limits. Support for age restrictions crosses party lines with 78% of Democrats, 83% of Republicans, and 79% of independents saying a maximum age for candidates should exist.
Similar proportions of Americans are in favor of terms limits for members of Congress. 83% of residents nationally strongly support or support limiting the number of times candidates can run for congressional office. 17% oppose or strongly oppose such limits. Here, too, bipartisan support exists with 78% of Democrats, 89% of Republicans, and 84% of independents expressing favor for term limits.
About Three in Four Enthusiastic for Upcoming Midterm Elections
While nearly three in four registered voters (74%) are either very enthusiastic or somewhat enthusiastic about voting in this year’s elections, 26% are either not too enthusiastic or not enthusiastic at all. A similar level of enthusiasm exists among Democrats (79%) and Republicans (82%). 63% of independents say they are either very enthusiastic or somewhat enthusiastic about voting in November’s elections.
Nearly Three in Four Support Showing ID to Vote… Fewer Back Showing Proof of Citizenship to Register
74% of Americans strongly support or support requiring people to show photo identification to vote. Included here are 51% of Democrats, 93% of Republicans, and 77% of independents. Of note, 74% of Republicans strongly support requiring a photo to be shown before casting a ballot. 26% of Americans, overall, oppose or strongly oppose making photo identification a requirement to vote.
Fewer Americans, though, support people having to show proof of citizenship to register to vote. 65% of Americans — including 37% of Democrats, 93% of Republicans, and 67% of independents — strongly support or support this requirement to be in place before registering. 35% of residents nationally — including 63% of Democrats, 7% of Republicans, and 33% of independents — either strongly oppose or oppose making proof a citizenship a requirement for voter registration.
Majority Opposes the Automatic Registration in SSS
In December, the U.S. will implement automatic registration into the military’s Selective Service System, replacing the current required self-registration process. And a majority of Americans (53%) either strongly oppose or oppose such a change. 46% of Americans either strongly support or support this procedure. While 69% of Democrats oppose or strongly oppose automatic registration, 68% of Republicans support it. A slim majority of independents (52%) are against automatic registration into the Selective Service System.
Methodology
This NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll national survey of 1,322 adults was conducted April 27th through April 30th, 2026, by the Marist Poll in partnership with NPR and PBS News. Adults 18 years of age and older residing in the United States were contacted through a multi-mode design: By phone using live interviewers, by text, or online. Results for all adults (n= 1,322) are statistically significant within ±3.1 percentage points. Results for registered voters (n=1,155) are statistically significant within ±3.3 percentage points.