‘Hard times for MAGA’: Over a third of Trump’s fiercest supporters forced to admit cost of living crisis is the worst in memory

Donald Trump takes every opportunity to tell you that the American economy is booming and that if there are any problems, they’re Joe Biden’s fault.

Trump’s most stalwart supporters have been happy to swallow that hook, line, and sinker. But, unfortunately, as we approach one year under the second Trump administration, the everyday reality of a trip to the grocery store is making it hard for even die-hard MAGA supporters to believe the president.

All this is detailed in a new poll from Politico that takes the economic pulse of the nation. This reveals that a full 46% of the 2,098 Americans polled believe that the current cost of living is “the worst they can ever remember it being”.

Zeroing in on Trump voters, 37% of them agree with that, with another 34% believing that “the cost of living here is bad, but I can remember times when it was worse”. So, that’s 71% of Trump voters polled who are currently unhappy with the cost of living.

But opinion is split on whether this is Trump’s fault. 37% of Trump voters still insist that any current economic woes are the “full responsibility” of Joe Biden. But, ominously for Trump, 18% of MAGA say Trump has “full responsibility” for the current crisis.

How long can they blame Biden?

Each day that passes takes us further from the Biden administration and weakens Trump’s insistence that price rises aren’t his fault. As such, this will make disturbing reading for Republican strategists eyeing the 2026 midterms.

While it’s doubtful that MAGA voters unhappy with Trump’s failure to improve the economy will ever vote Democrat, a cratering economy and skyrocketing grocery prices will drain enthusiasm from the movement and derail arguments that only Trump and his MAGA economic policies are the path forward.

All of which means Trump and MAGA candidates will spend the run-up to the 2026 midterms doing everything they can to stoke the fires of the culture wars in an effort to make sure their base is so angry they’re willing to overlook that they no longer have any disposable income (or in some cases, any income).

So, if you think Trump and his goons are saying and doing some hateful stuff now, you ain’t seen nothing yet. As the economy continues to crater, they have no choice but to distract their base with ever more insane and horrible things. So, uh, have fun in 2026 because it’s likely going to be make or break for the 249-year-old American experiment.