February 23, 2026
The State of the Union, February 2026
The State of the Union is Not Strong, Says a Majority
When thinking about the state of the union, a majority of Americans, say the United States is not very strong or not strong at all. In fact, six in ten Americans think the country is worse off than it was a year ago, and even more Americans say the system of checks and balances is not working well. Taken together, the results of these questions underscore the view of more than seven in ten Americans that U.S. democracy is in jeopardy.
57% of Americans think the state of the union is not very strong or not strong at all. This is notched up from 53% in March of 2025. In contrast, 43% of Americans believe the the union is either very strong or strong, down slightly from 47% previously.
Democrats (79%) and independents (68%) are more likely than Republicans (23%) to say the state of the nation is not strong. 77% of Republicans believe the United States is on solid ground.
Six in ten Americans, including 90% of Democrats and 68% of independents, say the nation is worse off than it was a year ago. 40%, including 82% of Republicans, think the country is better off than it was last year.
Nearly seven in ten Americans (68%), up from 56% last year, either disagree or strongly disagree with the notion that the system of checks and balances in the United States is working well. Slightly fewer than one in three (32%) strongly agree or agree that the system is functioning well.
The largest change has occurred among Republicans and independents. 43% of Republicans, up from 26%, and 75% of independents, up from 64%, think the system of checks and balances in the U.S. is not functioning effectively.
When thinking about the issues that divide the nation, 78% of Americans believe there is a serious threat to democracy. 22% do not think democracy is in jeopardy. Regardless of party, at least six in ten (91% of Democrats, 80% of independents, and 61% of Republicans) report democracy in the United States is in peril.
President Trump’s Direction is Change for the Worse, Say Majority
55% of residents nationally say the direction in which President Trump is moving the country is change for the worse. 37% think it is change for the better. Eight percent believe President Trump is creating no real change at all. When last reported in April of 2025, 51% thought the nation’s trajectory with President Trump at the helm was change for the worse. 42% said it was change for the better.
Majority of Americans Report Negative Impact Due to President’s Policies
When thinking about the policies President Trump has implemented during his second term, 53% of Americans say they have had a mostly negative personal impact on them, notched up from 49% last April. 30% report the personal effect has been mostly positive while 17% say the policies have had no impact on them. More than eight in ten Democrats (85%), a majority of independents (58%), and more than one in ten Republicans (13%) say the president’s policies have been a detriment to them personally. Nearly seven in ten Republicans (69%) say they have benefited from them.
Methodology
This NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll national survey of 1,462 adults was conducted January 27th through January 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= 1,462) are statistically significant within ±2.9 percentage points. Results for registered voters (n=1,326) are statistically significant within ±3.0 percentage points. For full methodology and tables, click on the Survey Data button below.