According to a recent poll, the majority of Americans are not optimistic about the direction of the country or the national economy under Joe Biden’s leadership. Only 21% of adults have confidence in the country’s trajectory, with Democrats being more optimistic (36%) than Republicans (7%). Additionally, only 24% of the population has a positive perception of the economy, while a large majority of 76% believe it is in a state of decline.

According to the AP Poll:

National economy views: 24% adults rate it as good, down from 30% in April. Democrats more optimistic than Republicans. Older adults (60+) and college graduates more likely to view it positively (34% vs. 19% for younger adults; 32% vs. 20% for non-graduates).

Confidence in banks: Only 11% express high confidence, down from 22% in Sep 2020.

Biden’s job approval: 40% public approval, unchanged from April. Strong support among Democrats.

Biden’s handling of specific issues: Negative views on national economy, gun policy, and immigration; only a third approve. Slightly more positive on student loans.

Partisan divide: Approval of the president and specific issues remains highly partisan. Older adults and college graduates more likely to approve of Biden’s handling of economy and gun policy compared to younger or less educated individuals.

Zoie Mosqueda, a 24-year-old who does not belong to any political party, said that her family is ready to buy their first home. However, the current mortgage interest rates of about 6.9% make it seem impossible to achieve their goal. Mortgage balances have increased by $121 billion to a total of $12.04 trillion in the first quarter of 2023, and new mortgage originations have decreased to the lowest level since 2014.

A mother of two named Mosqueda, who works at a boutique and has plans to start her own business, shared her dissatisfaction with Biden’s performance. She mentioned that the current economic situation feels chaotic.

During a recent G7 visit, Bob Vought, a retired auto parts warehouse manager from St. Petersburg, Florida, said that it would be disastrous for the country if no action is taken.

Vought criticized Biden’s economic policies, especially regarding how they impacted his finances, which rely on Social Security benefits. Despite the recent increases in Social Security payments (5.9% in 2022 and 8.7% in 2023), Vought feels these adjustments are inadequate in keeping up with inflation, particularly regarding rising rental costs and higher prices for essential items like food.

Karen D’Andrea, a 64-year-old Democrat living in Port Lucie, Florida, lost her job during the early stages of the pandemic. Although she found a job at a tech startup, she was recently laid off because the sector had to cut costs, which was similar to what happened during the Great Recession.

According to D’Andrea, there are people who share her viewpoint and believe that their best days are already behind them. While she commends Biden for his performance, she thinks that the country is currently going in the wrong direction. D’Andrea stressed the significance of collaborating and thinks that to make things wonderful in the present, everyone needs to work together. She also pointed out how Republicans often talk about making America great again.