Voters liked Joe Biden's economy better than Trump's

April 1, 2026, 3:08 pm ET

President Donald Trump has spoken endlessly and inaccurately about his predecessor. The economy was a “disaster” and a “disaster”. he even once said“You could take the five worst presidents in American history, and put them together, and they would not have done the damage that Joe Biden has done to our country in just a few years. Not even close.”

Well, Mr. President, I have bad news. You have messed up so much in your second term that voters are wishing they could have done the same. Return to the glory days of “Sleepy Joe” Biden.

New one The Harvard Capps/Harris survey found More than half of American voters think the economy is worse under Trump than under Biden. And 62% blamed Trump rather than Biden for the current state of the economy.

To adopt a bit of Trump’s typical pattern: “They’re begging like dogs to back off. They’re saying, ‘Can we know a little more about President Biden’s disaster? Please?'”

Trump’s situation is so bad that Americans are missing Joe Biden’s economy

CNN reports on a survey released by the network April 1 noted: “The 65% who say Trump’s policies have made the economy worse is the highest during his presidency, more than those who said the same about Democrat Joe Biden’s policies at any time during his time in office.”

Oh, Joe. Come back!

Trump can shout that the economy is roaring and America is roaring hottest country in the world Until his face turns even more orange than usual, but it’s clear that, like cheap MAGA merchandise, no one is buying it.

Americans dislike the way Trump is handling the economy, as they should

CNN poll finds 72% of Americans disapprove On how Trump is handling inflation, he has a higher approval rate on his presidency than Biden (68%) and former President Jimmy Carter (66%).

Biden’s lowest approval rating on gas prices was 72%, but 76% dislike Trump in CNN poll On that topic. and only 31% people approve of Trump’s handling of the economy.

It’s possible that Americans are feeling let down because flimflam artist Trump managed to take high post-Covid inflation rates and use them to stoke people’s economic fears, bringing what was otherwise a strong Biden economy back into the White House.

He then proceeded to impose ridiculous tariffs and, among other things, start a war with Iran, raise oil prices, as well as eliminate Affordable Care Act subsidies and fail to lower the cost of food.

‘Employment creation has slowed down and the unemployment rate has increased’

Dean Baker, senior fellow at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, Wrote a comparison of Biden/Trump economies in March and concluded:

“By every standard measure, the economy was quite strong at the end of 2024. Inflation was somewhat above the Fed’s 2.0 percent target, but it had been trending downwards for the past two years and inflation continued to decline in almost all projections. The Fed was lowering interest rates, and these rate cuts would almost certainly have continued into the winter, had the election of Donald Trump not raised the prospect of sharply higher tariffs and inflation. Less The rates would help lower mortgage rates and boost construction, which would accelerate the decline in home prices.

“It is too early to pass judgment on the Trump administration’s policies, but the impact to date has been contrary to claims. Higher tariffs have boosted inflation, albeit somewhat less than many had anticipated. Job creation has slowed and the unemployment rate has risen. And there is no evidence of a manufacturing boom, as both manufacturing employment and factory construction have declined.”