US voters see economy rigged for wealthy, give Trump low economic ratings

A Fox Newspoll of American voters shows that 65% believe the economy is rigged to favor the wealthy, while only 35% think hard work still offers a fair chance. Among party lines, 42% of Republicans, 70% of independents and 84% of Democrats share the belief that the system is tilted toward the rich.

Approval of President Donald Trump’s handling of the economy is low, with just 33% giving a positive rating, and only 27% approving his management of inflation. When asked to rate overall economic conditions, 41% described them as "poor" and 35% as "only fair."

Three‑quarters of respondents say inflation has caused hardship for their families in the past six months, and 34% describe that hardship as serious. The impact is strongest among lower‑income households – half of those earning under $50,000 call it serious, compared with 18% of earners above $100,000. Consumer prices rose 3.5% over the 12 months ending June, down from 4.2% a month earlier, and fell 0.4% in June – the biggest single‑month decline since April 2020. Energy costs remain up 15.7% year‑over‑year, and the national average price of gasoline was $4.09 per gallon on July 23.

The sentiment mirrors longstanding public alienation measured by the Harris Poll, where 79% in June 2023 agreed that "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer," a view that historically crosses partisan lines.