May 17, 2026
In a recent PBS interview, President Donald Trump said he didn’t “think about Americans’ financial situation” when in talks over the Iran War (1). He says he's focused solely on nuclear weapons.
While it makes sense nuclear war is priority No. 1, American finances shouldn't be far behind.
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A new report on mental health from Thriveworks shows that worries about personal finance and the rising cost of living are the top stressors for Americans in 2026 (2). Concerns about political news and global events took second place.
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Trump's callousness to American's bottom line is showing in his approval numbers. The Economist reports that his approval rating for inflation and prices is -44, which is both a new low for him and his worst approval score across all measured areas (3).
Here's how his economic policy has impacted Americans' mental health.
For many, financial and political fears are intertwined
Anxiety around rising cost of living and anxiety around global events were measured as two separate options in the Thriveworks report (4). But these two concepts are inherently connected, especially when Trump's trade war has such an outsized impact on both.
Job security and increasing use of AI were also reported as possible stressors on the survey; both of these can play into financial fears as well.
"Much like major news events, financial stress rarely exists in isolation anymore," said Jami Dumler, LCSW and Director of Clinical Programs at Thriveworks, in an email to Moneywise. "Concerns about cost of living, job stability, political tension, and global events are overlapping in a way that can leave people feeling emotionally overloaded and mentally 'on alert' much of the time."
Reading the news can make you feel worried about the rising cost of gas at the same time you fear what could happen next in the Iran war. Trump saying that his constituent's economic fears matter "not even a little bit" to his negotiation strategy can make those fears worse.
"Comments from public leaders on topics tied to the economy or global conflict can also heighten feelings of uncertainty for some individuals, regardless of political affiliation," Dumler says. She says that uncertainty can be hard for clients to navigate, especially if they're continually reading or watching the news.
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Focusing on what's within your control can help you deal with the news cycle
Dumler says that one way to combat stress is to focus on what you can control instead of things you can't do anything about.
"In therapy, we are increasingly helping clients focus on what is within their control while finding ways to stay informed without becoming emotionally consumed by the news cycle," she says.
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You can't singlehandedly lower the price of gas, but you can find ways to drive less, whether that means taking public transport, buying a bike, or even carpooling more with friends.
Similarly, you can't do much to make steak less expensive, but you can choose to eat more chicken or trade down to less costly cuts of beef.
If you're feeling out of control of your finances, that could be a sign you need to revisit your budget. That feeling could come from not knowing where your money is going each month. Checking in on your budget regularly is a good idea anyway — that way, you get a better picture of how your budget works in practice, not just in theory.
And if job stability is one of your stressors, dedicating a little more each month to build out your emergency fund could help you feel more prepared, regardless of what comes next.
Article Sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines.
PBS (1); Thriveworks (2),(4); The Economist (3)
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Kit Pulliam is a DC-based financial journalist with over five years of experience writing, editing, and fact-checking financial content.
