Anxiety over the cost of living has risen in Tennessee since President Donald Trump took office, according to a Vanderbilt University poll released Thursday.
Tennesseans across the political spectrum are worried about their finances. Roughly 87% of respondents said the daily cost of living is too high.
“People are worried about paying their bills, perhaps more than anything else,” said Josh Clinton, co-director of the Vanderbilt Poll. “Certainly, there is a portion of the population that is thriving, but for the average person trying to make their way in the world, it’s rough, and we see that in the data.”
A majority ranked the U.S. economy poorly, but confidence in the state economy remains high, with 61% rating Tennessee’s economy as “very” or “fairly good.”
Still, most respondents were concerned about their personal finances. More than half said they’re worried about paying their monthly bills, and 67% worry they might not be able to afford emergencies like medical care or car repairs — a 13% increase since last year.
“Inflation is a serious concern for Tennesseans across the state, even among MAGA Republicans,” said John Geer, co-director of the Vanderbilt Poll. “While Trump continues to have support in the state, the worries about the cost of living are growing. And as we saw in the recent special election in the 7th Congressional District, people are expressing their concerns by being much more willing to vote for a Democrat than just a year ago.”
When it comes to the Trump administration’s statements on autism and vaccines, most Tennesseans do not agree with the president. Overall, 21% agree or somewhat agree that childhood vaccines can cause autism, with 38% strongly disagreeing and 32% neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Meanwhile, 16% agree or strongly agree that mothers taking Tylenol while pregnant can cause autism, with 38% strongly disagreeing and 37% neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
The vast majority of Tennesseans — 83% — support the average Americans’ right to criticize the president. That percentage decreases to 73% for comedians. Even fewer believe journalists have the right to be harshly critical of the president, at 63%.
The poll also found a bipartisan shift in educational priorities, with more Tennesseans believing high schools should teach math, science and “critical thinking” skills over computer science and artificial intelligence. Only 27% believe a foreign language should be prioritized.
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