The economy won’t be able to rescue Trump, and the GOP as the vast majority of Americans aren’t feeling great benefit from Trump’s economy.
The Majority Of Americans Don’t Feel Like They’ve Gained Under Trump
The Monmouth University poll found:
12% of Americans say that their family has benefited a great deal from recent growth in the U.S. economy and another 31% say they have received some benefit from the economic upturn. A majority, though, say they have been helped either not much (27%) or not at all (27%) from the nation’s macroeconomic growth. These results are nearly identical to Monmouth polls taken in 2018 as well as just before Trump took office in January 2017. Only 34% of those earning less than $50,000 a year and 42% of those earning between $50,000 and $100,000 say they have benefited at least somewhat from the growing economy. This contrasts with those earning more the $100,000, where a majority (58%) say they have benefited.
Currently, just 18% of Americans say that middle-class families in general have benefited a lot from Trump’s policies so far, 37% say that middle-class families have benefited a little and 36% say they have not benefited at all. These results are similar to a year ago, when 14% said the middle class benefited a lot, 45% a little, and 36% not at all. Public expectations were somewhat more positive shortly before Trump took office in January 2017, when 26% predicted that the middle class would see a lot of benefit from the new president’s policies, 40% said the middle class would see a little, and 29% said the middle class would not see any change in their situation.
Trump has led prosperity on paper for the wealthy
Trump and the Republicans think that they can run on the economy in 2020, but the problem is that the majority of Americans don’t feel like their own pocketbooks have prospered under Trump. When Trump talks about the economy, he always talks about the stock market and the unemployment rate. Most Americans don’t own stocks, but they are worried about healthcare and being able to afford to pay their bills.
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The economy didn’t work as a strategy for Congressional Republicans in 2018, because people don’t feel like they are doing better under Trump. Unless you are rich, Trump’s economy really isn’t that good.
The one thing that Republicans thought could save them may not matter at all to voters in 2020.
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Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
