President Donald Trump's job approval remains stuck at 39% as inflation concerns and economic pessimism fuel widespread voter frustration with Washington's political establishment, according to a Fox News poll released Wednesday. The survey revealed a nation demanding change, with 80% of voters seeking substantial, dramatic, or revolutionary transformation in government.
Trump's approval rating hasn't budged for three months, sitting just one point above his October 2017 low of 38%. That's slightly below former President Barack Obama's 42% approval at the same point in his second term in July 2014. The president received his worst marks on inflation, with 73% disapproving of his handling of the issue, followed by the economy at 67% disapproval, Iran at 66%, and immigration at 57%.
Economic Anxiety Dominates
Three-quarters of voters rated the economy negatively, a figure that's held steady for six months. More troubling: another three-quarters reported that inflation has caused them financial hardship, including 34% who described it as "serious" hardship—up from 26% last year. The pessimism cuts across party lines in striking ways. While 71% of Republicans expect economic improvement in the coming year, 75% of Democrats and 64% of independents anticipate further deterioration.
Democrats hold a 7-point lead on the generic House ballot, with 53% of voters backing the Democratic candidate in their district compared to 46% for Republicans. That 53% figure represents the highest percentage either party has received in Fox News polling since 1996. Democrats were up by 5 points in April.
Motivation Gap Favors Democrats
The enthusiasm advantage currently sits with Democrats. Sixty-eight percent of Democratic voters say they're extremely motivated to vote in November, compared with 57% of Republicans. Within the GOP, there's a stark divide: 66% of MAGA Republicans report extreme motivation, while only 41% of non-MAGA Republicans say the same—a 25-point spread that highlights continuing fractures within the party.
Anti-Establishment Sentiment Surges
Voters expressed profound dissatisfaction with both parties' ties to special interests. Seventy percent said the Republican Party is closely tied to elite interests, while 55% said the same about Democrats. Nearly half of Democrats, 48%, and 41% of Republicans said they feel betrayed by their own party, mainly for selling out to special interests.
By a 2-to-1 margin, voters said it's more important to elect new people than keep those with experience. Nineteen percent want revolutionary change in the nation's government, 38% want substantial change, and 23% want dramatic change. Nearly 7 in 10 voters disapproved of both Democrats and Republicans in Congress, and 85% supported a mandatory retirement age for members of Congress.
Shifting Economic Attitudes
Fifty percent of voters had a positive view of capitalism, down from 57% in 2019. Meanwhile, 30% viewed socialism favorably, up from 27% last year. The Democratic Socialists of America were viewed positively by 31%. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders held a 45% favorable rating, ahead of Vice President JD Vance at 41%, Trump at 38%, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 35%. Forty-four percent had a favorable view of Israel, down from 58% a decade ago.
The poll was conducted July 17-20, 2026, under the direction of Beacon Research and Shaw & Company Research. Interviews were completed with 1,003 registered voters randomly selected from a national voter file, with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Why This Matters:
The poll captures a nation frustrated with economic management and skeptical of both parties' commitment to voters over special interests. Inflation's continued bite—with over a third reporting serious financial hardship—demonstrates the real-world cost of failed fiscal policy. The erosion of support for capitalism, down 7 points since 2019, and rising interest in socialism suggest economic pain is driving some voters toward government-centered solutions rather than market-based reforms. The enthusiasm gap between MAGA and non-MAGA Republicans reveals internal party tensions that could affect turnout and competitiveness. Most significantly, voters' overwhelming demand for new leadership and their rejection of experienced politicians reflects deep institutional distrust that transcends partisan labels. The 85% support for mandatory congressional retirement ages shows voters want structural change, not just different faces.