Trump says he knows money. Voters are not buying the economy.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks at Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa in Las Vegas on Aug. 5, 2026. Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok

Trump loves gold. Voters are not buying his economy | ABNN NewsbreakJamie Jackson, Correspondent

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WASHINGTON (ABNN) - President Donald Trump’s approval numbers remain underwater, and the economy continues to be one of his biggest political problems.

A new poll from the American Research Group shows 30% of Americans approve of the way Trump is handling his job as president, while 66% disapprove.

Last month, 30% approved and 67% disapproved.

The numbers are also worse than they were during Trump’s first term. In August 2018, 36% approved of the way Trump was handling his job as president, while 59% disapproved.

Mr. Trump has built much of his public image around wealth, gold and dealmaking.

But when it comes to the economy, the latest numbers show most Americans are not buying the pitch.

The poll shows 28% of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, while 69% disapprove. In July, 28% approved and 70% disapproved.

In August 2018, 40% approved of Trump’s handling of the economy and 55% disapproved.

Those numbers come at a very interesting time.

The Treasury Department is moving to buy back more long-term government debt after pressure in the bond market pushed yields higher.

A bond is basically an IOU.

When the government borrows money, investors buy Treasury securities. The government pays them interest and repays the debt later.

A bond buyback happens when Treasury buys back some older securities before they mature. It is typically used to help manage debt and improve liquidity in the market. Think of it like cleaning and reorganizing a closet so the financial system can move more smoothly.

The Treasury plan applies to 10- to 30-year Treasury securities. The department is doubling the size of certain buyback operations to at least $4 billion per operation from Sept. 9 through Nov. 4.

The timing matters because long-term Treasury yields have been moving higher.

Reuters reported the Treasury move came after the 30-year Treasury yield hit a 19-year high. AP reported the 30-year yield recently touched its highest level since 2007 before falling after the Treasury announcement.

Higher bond yields are not just numbers for Wall Street.

They can make borrowing more expensive for everyone. That includes the federal government, businesses, homeowners, car buyers and families already dealing with higher prices.

That is why the bond market matters politically.

If higher bond yields keep borrowing costs high, they could add to the economic pressure already showing up in Trump’s approval numbers.

For families, the issue is not whether a Treasury buyback sounds technical or complicated.

It is whether the economy feels easier to live in.

Right now, the polling suggests most Americans do not think it does.

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