According to the new Axios survey of more than 5,500 U.S. citizens, about 65% of Americans think their nation is moving down the wrong path. This widespread discontent is visible not only among the government’s critics but also among former supporters of the ruling party, marking a deep erosion of public trust in the U.S. political system.

Among Democrats, more than 90% of respondents said they were dissatisfied with the federal government’s performance, the state of the economy, foreign policy, and immigration management. Among Republicans, the average level of discontent stands around 25%; nevertheless, even within their ranks, pessimism about the country’s economic future and America’s global standing is on the rise.

In the economic sphere, 65% of all Americans believe conditions are moving in the wrong direction — a sentiment that has intensified amid labour market fluctuations, rising inflation, and higher living costs. On immigration, only 18% of Republicans and 89% of Democrats expressed satisfaction with current government policies.

What is striking is that, unlike in previous periods, dissatisfaction with the government’s performance is no longer confined to partisan boundaries. Both camps now complain about the ineffectiveness of macro-level policymaking. Analysts say this shared sentiment stems from the growing gap between electoral promises and the lived realities of economic and social life.

Experts warn that this trend could have serious implications for the upcoming U.S. elections, as voters are becoming less responsive to campaign rhetoric and more attentive to tangible economic and social outcomes. The United States — a nation that regards itself as a model of democracy — now faces a profound crisis of public trust and uncertainty about its future course.