A new AP-NORC poll conducted September 24-28, 2026, finds that 65% of U.S. adults primarily blame President Trump’s policies for higher-than-usual prices, while only 17% approve of his handling of the cost of living. Roughly 82% disapprove, and 69% of Americans, including 52% of Republicans, say his handling of prices has been “worse than expected.” The findings signal serious political risk for Republicans heading into the 2026 midterm elections. The AP-NORC Poll: Most Americans Blame Trump for High Prices highlights the growing discontent.
What Does the AP-NORC Poll Say About Trump and Inflation?
The AP-NORC poll delivers a stark verdict: most Americans hold Trump personally responsible for inflation, and his approval on the cost of living has collapsed to 17%. The survey, conducted September 24-28, 2026, and released October 1, shows that roughly 82% of U.S. adults disapprove of how the president is handling prices, a deterioration from earlier 2026 AP-NORC polling when about one-quarter of adults approved of his cost-of-living performance.
This AP-NORC Poll: Most Americans Blame Trump for High Prices underscores the urgency for political change among voters concerned about inflation.
The AP’s coverage of the poll frames the results as a warning sign for Republicans ahead of the midterms, with everyday affordability now a central voter concern.
How Many Americans Blame Trump for High Prices?
65% of U.S. adults primarily blame Trump’s policies for higher-than-usual prices, the AP-NORC poll finds. That is the headline number, and it represents a notable shift in political accountability: during Joe Biden’s presidency, AP-NORC surveys showed similar concern about inflation, but Americans were less likely to attribute high prices directly to the sitting president’s policies.
The breakdown of key figures:
MeasureResultBlame Trump’s policies for high prices65%Approve of handling the cost of living17%Disapprove of handling the cost of living~82%Say handling has been “worse than expected”69%Republicans who say “worse than expected”52%Approve of overall economic handling~26%
As USA Today’s report on the survey notes, the 26% economic approval figure marks a record trough for Trump’s economic standing in this term.
Why Do People Blame Trump for Inflation?
Voters blame Trump because they see prices rising on his watch and connect the increases to decisions he made, especially on trade and energy. AP-NORC reporting explicitly links public frustration to Trump’s aggressive use of tariffs and the ongoing war with Iran, both of which have added inflationary pressure, driven up energy costs, and heightened anxiety about economic stability.
The reasoning many Americans follow is straightforward:
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Tariffs raise import costs, which businesses often pass to consumers.
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The Iran conflict has pushed up energy and gas prices, feeding into transportation and utility costs.
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Trump campaigned on lowering prices quickly, so voters measure results against that promise.
The AP’s reporting on gas prices and the Iran war documents large majorities noticing higher-than-usual prices for groceries, electricity, and holiday gifts, with widespread worry about affording everyday essentials like food and gas.
What Causes High Prices in America Right Now?
High prices in 2026 stem from a mix of policy choices and global pressures, and the poll shows Americans disagree about which factor dominates. The AP-NORC data reveal a partisan split on responsibility: 65% of the public overall blames Trump’s policies, while 67% of Republicans say the price increases come from factors beyond the president’s control.
The main drivers cited in economic reporting include:
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Tariffs, which raise the cost of imported goods and materials.
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Energy costs, worsened by the Iran war and its effect on oil and gas markets.
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Lingering post-pandemic supply and labor dynamics in some sectors.
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Corporate pricing behavior, which some analysts argue keeps prices elevated even as input costs fall.
For context on how perceptions of the economy shape politics more broadly, see our related coverage of why Americans think the economy is doing poorly.
Did Trump’s Policies Actually Cause Inflation?
Economists generally argue that presidents influence prices indirectly, through tariffs, energy policy, and fiscal stances, but rarely control inflation outright. In Trump’s case, the specific policies most often linked to price pressure are his tariffs and the energy-market effects of the Iran conflict, both highlighted in AP-NORC and AP reporting.
The honest answer has two parts:
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Tariffs are a direct, measurable policy choice that raises costs on imported goods. Economists across the spectrum agree on this mechanism, even when they disagree on the tradeoffs.
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Broader inflation reflects global forces, including energy shocks and supply chains, that no single president controls.
The poll captures this tension: most Americans assign blame to Trump’s decisions anyway, while a large share of Republicans point to external factors. As The Independent’s analysis of the poll notes, the tariff-heavy trade agenda is the policy most voters connect to the price problem.
How Do Prices Under Trump Compare to Biden?
Comparisons are tricky because inflation peaked during Biden’s term, yet Trump now owns the price level. The key difference is political, not just statistical: under Biden, AP-NORC polling found similar worry about inflation, but Americans were less likely to directly attribute high prices to the president’s policies. Today, 65% blame Trump’s policies specifically, a shift toward more personal presidential accountability.
Why the change? Two factors stand out:
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Trump campaigned hard on lowering prices fast, raising expectations he has not met. The 69% who say his handling has been “worse than expected” reflects that gap.
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Tariffs are a visible, traceable policy with a clear price mechanism, making it easier for voters to draw a line from decision to checkout receipt.
In late-2025 AP-NORC polling, about 68% of U.S. adults described the national economy as “poor”, a dissatisfaction that has carried into 2026, as AP’s polling coverage shows.
Do Republicans Blame Trump for High Prices Too?
Yes, in meaningful numbers, though most still deflect blame from him. The AP-NORC poll finds that 52% of Republicans say Trump’s handling of the cost of living has been “worse than expected”, a striking level of disappointment within his own party. At the same time, 67% of Republicans say price increases are due to factors beyond the president’s control, showing loyalty still shapes how GOP voters assign responsibility.
This creates a genuine political problem for Republican candidates in 2026: their base is frustrated by prices but reluctant to blame the president, while independents and Democrats have no such hesitation. The Hill’s coverage of the survey highlights these low ratings as clear warning signs for the party heading into the midterms.
When Was This AP-NORC Poll Conducted, and How Accurate Are AP-NORC Polls?
The poll was conducted September 24-28, 2026, with results released October 1. AP-NORC polls are conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research at the University of Chicago, using probability-based panels designed to represent the U.S. adult population.
On accuracy: AP-NORC is widely regarded as one of the more reliable polling operations in American journalism, using the AmeriSpeak panel rather than opt-in online samples. A few practical points for readers evaluating any poll:
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Sample design matters more than sample size. Probability-based panels like AmeriSpeak generally produce lower error than convenience samples.
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Margins of error apply to the full sample. Subgroup figures, like Republican responses, carry wider uncertainty.
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Trends beat single polls. The deterioration from roughly 25% cost-of-living approval in earlier 2026 polling to 17% now is more telling than any one number, a trend documented in AP News’s reporting on Trump’s economic approval.
Can a President Actually Control Inflation?
Partially, but far less than campaign promises imply. A president’s tools include tariffs, energy regulation, fiscal proposals, and appointments to the Federal Reserve, yet the Fed, an independent institution, controls interest-rate policy, and global commodity markets set energy and food prices.
The practical division of influence:
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What a president controls: trade policy, tariff levels, regulatory posture, and the tone of fiscal policy.
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What a president influences indirectly: energy prices through foreign policy and drilling policy.
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What a president cannot control: global supply shocks, wars abroad, and Fed rate decisions.
The current moment illustrates the limits. Trump’s tariffs are a direct presidential action with clear price effects, but the Iran war’s energy impact is a geopolitical force no White House fully manages. Voters, however, tend to hold presidents accountable for the whole picture, which is exactly what the 65% blame figure shows.
What Does This Mean for the 2026 Midterms?
The poll’s timing, five weeks before the midterms, makes it a political alarm bell for Republicans. With only 17% approving of Trump’s cost-of-living handling and 65% blaming his policies for prices, GOP candidates face a difficult question: defend the president’s economic agenda or distance themselves from it.
Trump’s relative bright spot is border security and immigration, where approximately half of Americans give him positive marks, still divided but clearly stronger than his economic ratings. That contrast gives Republican strategists a choice of terrain, but the AP-NORC data suggest affordability, not immigration, is the dominant voter concern this cycle.
FAQ
What percentage of Americans blame Trump for high prices?
65% of U.S. adults primarily blame Trump’s policies for higher-than-usual prices, according to the AP-NORC poll conducted September 24-28, 2026.
What is Trump’s approval rating on the cost of living?
Only 17% of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the cost of living, while roughly 82% disapprove.
When was the AP-NORC poll conducted?
The poll was conducted September 24-28, 2026, and released October 1, 2026.
Do Republicans blame Trump for inflation?
Mostly no on blame, but yes on disappointment: 67% of Republicans say prices are rising due to factors beyond Trump’s control, yet 52% say his handling has been worse than expected.
What is Trump’s overall economic approval rating?
About 26% of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, a low point in his term.
Why do Americans blame Trump for inflation?
Voters connect his tariff policies and the energy-market effects of the Iran war to higher prices, and they measure results against his campaign promise to lower costs quickly.
How does this compare with Biden’s inflation polling?
AP-NORC polling under Biden showed similar inflation concern, but Americans were less likely to attribute high prices directly to Biden’s policies, making the 65% figure a shift toward stronger presidential accountability.
Can a president control inflation?
Only partially. Presidents control tariffs, regulation, and fiscal tone, but the Federal Reserve sets interest rates and global markets drive energy and food prices.
Where does Trump poll better?
Border security and immigration, where roughly half of Americans give him positive marks, compared with 17% on the cost of living.
Key Takeaways
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65% of Americans blame Trump’s policies for high prices rather than factors outside his control, according to the AP-NORC survey released October 1, 2026.
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Only 17% approve of Trump’s handling of the cost of living; about 82% disapprove.
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69% say his handling of prices has been “worse than expected,” including a majority of Republicans (52%).
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67% of Republicans still say price increases stem from factors beyond the president’s control, revealing tension between party loyalty and economic frustration.
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About 26% of Americans approve of Trump’s overall economic handling, a low point in his term.
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Tariffs and the ongoing war with Iran are cited in AP reporting as inflationary pressures driving public frustration.
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Trump rates better on border security and immigration, where roughly half of Americans give him positive marks.
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The poll was conducted September 24-28, 2026, among U.S. adults, with results released October 1.
Conclusion
The AP-NORC poll released October 1, 2026, delivers an unambiguous message: most Americans blame Trump for high prices, his cost-of-living approval has fallen to 17%, and even a majority of Republicans say his handling has been worse than expected. With the midterms weeks away, affordability has become the defining voter concern, and the data suggest Republicans will answer for it at the ballot box.
For readers following this story, the practical next steps are simple. Track the trend, not just one poll, by watching whether cost-of-living approval moves in coming AP-NORC surveys. Compare claims about inflation to verifiable mechanisms, especially tariffs and energy prices. And for voters, weigh candidates’ specific price proposals rather than party talking points, because the poll shows economic frustration now crosses partisan lines. Related coverage worth reading includes our reporting on Trump-tied groups pushing voting changes in Wisconsin and White House efforts to blame Republicans for prolonging the pandemic.
