Poll Shock: 70% Say Democrats 'Out of Touch' as Trump Trust Soars

Paul Riverbank, 4/29/2025Poll reveals growing voter-party disconnect as Democrats struggle while Trump's trust ratings rise.

I was reviewing the latest Newsweek numbers yesterday, and they paint a fascinating picture. While Trump's approval ratings have softened, here's what caught my attention: 37% of Americans still trust him to solve the country's problems, compared to just 30% who put their faith in Democrats. Having covered six presidential cycles, I can tell you – that's a remarkable gap in a two-party system.

But it's the trust deficit that really jumps out at me. Nearly 70% of respondents see the Democratic Party as disconnected from average Americans' concerns. I've watched this disconnect growing over several election cycles, and it's reached a level that should worry Democratic strategists.

The media's role in all this? Well, I was at the White House Correspondents' dinner last week. Eugene Daniels gave an impassioned defense of the press corps, but it was Alex Thompson's candid admission that really struck home. "Being truth tellers means telling the truth about ourselves," he said. After 25 years in this business, I couldn't agree more – we've got some soul-searching to do about why public trust in media has eroded so dramatically.

The economic piece of this puzzle is equally complex. I spoke with several IMF economists while preparing this analysis. Their growth projection of 1.8% (down from 2.7%) reflects what Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas calls a "reset" of the global economic system. But here's what voters care about: kitchen table economics. The technical forecasts matter less than whether families feel secure about their financial future.

What I'm seeing on the ground – from town halls in Iowa to community meetings in Pennsylvania – is an electorate that's moved beyond traditional partisan reactions. They're looking for solutions, not sound bites. Both parties seem to be missing this fundamental shift.

The next few months will be crucial, but not for the reasons most pundits suggest. From where I sit, the winning strategy won't come from poll numbers or attack ads. It'll come from whichever side can convince everyday Americans they understand what keeps them up at night – and have real plans to address those concerns.

In my three decades covering politics, I've never seen such a disconnect between institutional messaging and voter concerns. The path forward isn't about left versus right anymore – it's about who can bridge the growing gap between Washington's priorities and Main Street's realities.

The American political landscape has taken several unexpected turns lately, and as someone who's spent decades covering Washington, I'm seeing patterns that deserve closer examination. Let me share what the data's telling us – and more importantly, what it means beneath the surface.I was reviewing the latest Newsweek numbers yesterday, and they paint a fascinating picture. While Trump's approval ratings have softened, here's what caught my attention: 37% of Americans still trust him to solve the country's problems, compared to just 30% who put their faith in Democrats. Having covered six presidential cycles, I can tell you – that's a remarkable gap in a two-party system.But it's the trust deficit that really jumps out at me. Nearly 70% of respondents see the Democratic Party as disconnected from average Americans' concerns. I've watched this disconnect growing over several election cycles, and it's reached a level that should worry Democratic strategists.The media's role in all this? Well, I was at the White House Correspondents' dinner last week. Eugene Daniels gave an impassioned defense of the press corps, but it was Alex Thompson's candid admission that really struck home. "Being truth tellers means telling the truth about ourselves," he said. After 25 years in this business, I couldn't agree more – we've got some soul-searching to do about why public trust in media has eroded so dramatically.The economic piece of this puzzle is equally complex. I spoke with several IMF economists while preparing this analysis. Their growth projection of 1.8% (down from 2.7%) reflects what Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas calls a "reset" of the global economic system. But here's what voters care about: kitchen table economics. The technical forecasts matter less than whether families feel secure about their financial future.What I'm seeing on the ground – from town halls in Iowa to community meetings in Pennsylvania – is an electorate that's moved beyond traditional partisan reactions. They're looking for solutions, not sound bites. Both parties seem to be missing this fundamental shift.The next few months will be crucial, but not for the reasons most pundits suggest. From where I sit, the winning strategy won't come from poll numbers or attack ads. It'll come from whichever side can convince everyday Americans they understand what keeps them up at night – and have real plans to address those concerns.In my three decades covering politics, I've never seen such a disconnect between institutional messaging and voter concerns. The path forward isn't about left versus right anymore – it's about who can bridge the growing gap between Washington's priorities and Main Street's realities.