The Nation's Pulse: Americans' Top Priorities And The Direction Of The Country

44% prioritize the economy as the country's most important issue
Immigration/border security and health care are also top concerns
Food prices and inflation are top economic concerns
Nearly half express satisfaction with the direction of the country

What, according to Americans, are the top issues facing the country?

Forty-four percent of Americans identified the economy as the country's most important issue, followed by immigration and border security at 32 percent.

These results are from the latest nationwide TIPP Poll, which was completed in late February and surveyed 1,434 Americans. The poll asked participants, "What are the top three issues facing the country?"

Twelve other issues received double-digit responses. Trust in government/politicians (21%), health care (20%), national debt/federal government spending (19%), homelessness (16%), and threats to democracy (15%)formed the next tier of concerns garnering 15% to 20%.

Crime (14%), home affordability (13%), lack of unity/division in the country (13%), climate change (13%), gun violence/gun control (11%), terrorism/national security (10%), and mental health (10%)also received notable mentions.

Meanwhile, issues that ranked lower on the scale include abortion (8%), Russia/Ukraine situation and global security (8%), racial justice (7%), China-U.S. relations (5%), Israel-Hamas conflict (3%), and coronavirus (2%).

Priorities varied along party and ideological lines.

For Democrats, the top issues were the economy (40%), threats to democracy (28%), trust in government/politicians (25%), health care (20%), and climate change (19%).

Republicans, on the other hand, prioritize immigration, border security (50%), economy (49%), national debt/federal government spending (27%), health care (19%), and crime (18%).

Independents aligned more closely with Republicans, with their top issues being the economy (43%), immigration, border security (31%), trust in government/politicians (23%), health care (20%), and homelessness (19%).

Top Economic Issues

Food prices (51%), inflation (46%), and people’s ability to pay their bills (25%)are among the top three economic issues facing Americans.

From a list of 21 economy-related issues, home affordability (20%), government spending (20%), tax rates (16%), gasoline prices (16%), recession (14%), layoffs (14%), lack of good jobs (11%), and rising interest rates (10%) were the other concerns that received double-digit responses.

Direction Of Country

Each month, the TIPP Poll probes the general sentiment regarding the country’s direction using the survey question, "In general, how satisfied are you with the direction that the country is going in at this time?"

The latest TIPP Poll shows Americans have mixed feelings about the country’s direction, though optimism is rising under President Trump’s leadership. 48% of respondents are satisfied, while 49% are dissatisfied. Republicans are the most optimistic, with 75% expressing satisfaction, while Democrats are the least satisfied, with 73% being dissatisfied. Independents fall in between, with 40% satisfied and 56% dissatisfied.

We also compute a compact index from responses to the above question. The index ranges from 0 to 100. A score of 50 or above is positive, below 50 is negative, and 50 is neutral.

Overall, the index entered the negative zone in September 2021 and has remained there for 42 months. In October 2024, the month before the election, it was 38.7. The March reading is 48.6.

Republicans are the most optimistic, with a high score of 71.8. Democrats have the lowest optimism rating at 28.1, indicating extreme pessimism. Independents fall in the middle at 40.3, reflecting a more balanced outlook.

The sharp spike in optimism among Republicans and the steep decline among Democrats coincide with President Trump's election, marking a clear partisan shift in sentiment. As leadership shifts, Republicans express renewed confidence in the country’s direction, while Democrats grow increasingly pessimistic, highlighting the nation's deep partisan divide.

Americans remain focused on the core issues—the economy, immigration, and government spending. Optimism is rising, but partisan divides persist—Republicans are upbeat, Democrats have turned pessimistic, and Independents are in the middle. Whether this optimism endures will hinge on how effectively leadership navigates the pressing challenges ahead.

Republicans are excited with Trump’s first five weeks, but economic concerns are mounting as signs of a slowdown emerge, with GDP projections declining and public confidence waning. Polls show that many Americans, including independents, believe Trump isn’t prioritizing the economy enough, and while Biden’s policies primarily caused current struggles, Trump risks being blamed if he doesn’t take control of the narrative. To counteract this, he must shift focus from blaming Biden to outlining concrete plans for economic recovery, highlighting trillions of dollars of investments, regulatory reforms, and long-term strategies to reassure voters and markets.

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