Fox News Poll: Americans Alarmed by Corruption, Rising Costs as Trump’s Approval Hits Record Low

Government corruption now rivals inflation as Americans’ most urgent concern. President Donald Trump’s approval rating has hit a record low, and Republicans trail Democrats ahead of the November midterms. The warning comes not from Democratic campaign strategists, but from a new Fox News poll. Other national surveys paint a similar picture.

Corruption Tops Voter Concerns

The Fox News survey, released Wednesday, found that 60 percent of registered voters are “extremely concerned” about government corruption. Per the findings,

The top five voter concerns are government corruption (60% extremely concerned), inflation (58%), gas prices (50%), government leadership (49%), and healthcare (48%).

The concern reveals a sharp partisan divide. While 72 percent of Democrats express extreme concern about government corruption, fewer than half of Republicans, 47 percent, share that level of alarm.

Voters also trust Democrats over Republicans to address corruption by 10 percentage points. Democrats hold an advantage on 10 of the 13 issues Fox measured.

The Corruption Allegations

The findings come amid mounting scrutiny of the Trump administration’s financial dealings, corporate relationships, and the president’s extraordinary business income while in office.

Trump’s latest financial disclosure reported more than $2.2 billion in income for 2025, including over $1.4 billion from cryptocurrency ventures. That compares with roughly $600 million in reported income for 2024. Trump-linked investment accounts also recorded more than 21,000 securities trades involving companies across defense, technology, pharmaceuticals, and other federally regulated industries. The Trump Organization maintains that independent financial institutions manage those investments without direction from the president or his family.

The Trump family’s cryptocurrency ventures have attracted substantial foreign investment, raising concerns about potential influence buying. Other controversies include the acceptance of a luxury Boeing 747 from Qatar, presidential pardons of financial offenders, and lucrative federal contracts awarded to defense companies linked to Trump’s sons.

The president’s $600 million White House ballroom-turned-military-facility have generated another controversy. A Washington Post investigation published Thursday uncovered $333 million in private pledges from corporations and wealthy individuals.

Major contributors included Apple, Nvidia, Palantir, Microsoft, other government contractors, and Republican megadonor Miriam Adelson. Some donors have benefited from federal contracts or favorable regulatory decisions. At least $77 million came from contributors who requested anonymity.

The White House denies improper conduct.

Democrats have pledged to investigate these dealings if they regain control of Congress in November. According to Reuters, Trump family business ventures and corporate ballroom donors would be among their first targets. House Oversight Democrat Robert Garcia of California has made Trump family financial dealings his top investigative priority, while Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York has promised to “hold the crooks accountable.” A congressional majority would give Democrats subpoena powers to compel testimony and obtain financial records.

Economic Numbers Collapse

The same Fox survey delivered equally troubling findings for the president’s economic agenda.

Only 36 percent approve of Trump’s overall job performance, his lowest rating in any Fox News poll across both presidencies. His approval among Republicans has fallen to 76 percent, down from 92 percent in March 2025.

On inflation, Trump’s approval stands at just 22 percent, while 77 percent disapprove.

By comparison, former President Joe Biden received 29 percent approval on inflation before the 2022 midterms.

Nearly three quarters of voters, 74 percent, rate the economy negatively. Another 53 percent expect conditions to worsen next year. Only 18 percent say their families are financially better off than two years ago.

The frustration extends well beyond Democratic voters.

Among independents, 52 percent say they are worse off financially, while 70 percent expect the economy to deteriorate.

An Associated Press-NORC poll, published October 1, found that 65 percent of adults blame Trump’s policies for unusually high prices. Even 52 percent of Republicans say his handling of living costs has fallen short of expectations.

A separate Financial Times-Focaldata survey, conducted October 2 through 4, found that only 25 percent approve of Trump’s economic management. His overall approval stood at 34 percent.

The findings across multiple polling organizations suggest that the dissatisfaction extends beyond any single survey.

Democrats Gain Ground

The political implications are becoming clearer.

Fox News found Democrats leading Republicans by 54 to 45 percent on the generic congressional ballot. Their nine-point advantage has widened from seven points in September.

Independents favor Democratic candidates by 26 points. Democrats also lead among younger voters, women, Hispanic voters, and white college graduates.

Republicans retain advantages among older voters, white voters without college degrees, and religious conservatives.

An AP-NORC survey, released Thursday, reinforces that picture. It found 47 percent of voters favor Democratic control of the House, compared with 38 percent supporting Republican control. Another 15 percent remain undecided.

Trump’s approval stood at 36 percent, matching the Fox finding. The survey also found that 85 percent consider the economy important to their vote, while 84 percent cited the cost of living.

A Gallup survey, published on Tuesday, found that 51 percent trust Democrats more to keep the country prosperous. Only 37 percent favor Republicans.

That represents Democrats’ largest advantage on economic prosperity since 2007.

Republicans still hold an advantage in the Fox poll on crime and border security.

A Crisis of Confidence in Both Parties

Democrats’ polling advantage does not necessarily mean Americans have regained confidence in their party.

The Fox survey found that only 35 percent believe Democrats have a clear plan for addressing the country’s problems. Republicans fare slightly worse, at 33 percent.

Congressional approval has fallen to 15 percent. Fully 84 percent disapprove of lawmakers’ performance.

Both major parties also carry negative favorability ratings. Democrats stand at 42 percent favorable and 58 percent unfavorable. Republicans register 38 percent favorable and 61 percent unfavorable.

An October AP-NORC survey offers a similar warning. Only 38 percent trust Democrats to handle living costs, compared with 27 percent for Republicans. Another 27 percent trust neither party.

The Thursday AP-NORC findings also revealed that

Eight in 10 voters want substantial change or total upheaval in how the country is run. 

In other words, voters can reject the governing party without embracing its opposition.

Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who helped conduct the Fox survey, acknowledged the political challenge: “Republicans have time to close these apparent gaps, but it’s getting late.”

The Fox poll surveyed 1,202 registered voters October 9 through 12, with a margin of sampling error of 2.5 percentage points. National polling captures the broader political climate, not the outcome of individual congressional races.

With Election Day approaching on November 3, the findings point to more than dissatisfaction with one president. They reveal deep public frustration with the institutions, parties, and officials entrusted with governing the country.

Whether that frustration produces a Democratic congressional majority remains uncertain. What the polls establish more clearly is that Americans’ distrust of Washington extends well beyond the party currently in power.