Poll shows 64.8% of Poles blame Donald Trump for rising fuel prices

Survey results on fuel costs

A survey conducted by the IBRiS research institute for Rzeczpospolita on 2 and 3 October 2026 found that 64.8% of respondents in Poland consider US President Donald Trump primarily responsible for the rise in domestic fuel prices. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his government were identified as the main cause by 25.2% of participants, while 0.9% pointed to Polish President Karol Nawrocki. Another 9.1% of respondents selected the option indicating they did not know, found it difficult to say, or held no opinion. The computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) survey was conducted on a representative sample of 1,072 people following weeks of elevated retail fuel costs across Polish filling stations.

Political divides in voter responses

Responses differed markedly depending on the political affiliations of the respondents. Among voters supporting the ruling coalition, which includes the Civic Coalition (KO), The Left (Lewica), the Polish People's Party (PSL), and Poland 2050, 90.8% blamed Donald Trump for high fuel prices. Within this governing electorate, 1.8% selected Karol Nawrocki, 1.3% named Donald Tusk's government, and 6.1% expressed no opinion. Conversely, among voters aligned with opposition parties, including Law and Justice (PiS), Together (Razem), Confederation, and the Confederation of the Polish Crown (KKP), 51.0% held the Tusk government responsible, while 44.6% pointed to Donald Trump, 0.2% selected Karol Nawrocki, and 4.1% remained undecided.

Demographic differences in public opinion

The survey also recorded variations based on gender. Among male respondents, 66% blamed Donald Trump, 27% pointed to the Tusk government, 0% selected Karol Nawrocki, and 8% answered that they did not know. Among female respondents, 64% identified Donald Trump as responsible, 24% blamed the Tusk administration, 2% pointed to Karol Nawrocki, and 10% had no opinion. Across both demographic groups, Donald Trump was identified as the primary factor by a clear majority, with men showing a slightly higher rate of attribution to the domestic government than women.

Domestic legislation and international factors

The poll results come as retail fuel prices in Poland reached elevated levels prior to the rollout of the government's latest CPN intervention package aimed at lowering consumer costs. The issue carries significant domestic political weight ahead of the 2027 parliamentary elections. In a Thursday address, President Karol Nawrocki announced he had signed legislation taxing the windfall profits of fuel companies to fund retail price reductions, reversing two months of declarations that he would not sign it due to constitutional concerns raised by his staff. Nawrocki also stated that he would send the law to the Constitutional Tribunal under subsequent review procedures. Opposition figures and the Presidential Palace continue to criticize Donald Tusk over his four-year-old electoral pledge that gasoline would cost 5.19 PLN per liter. In the United States, Donald Trump signed an executive order allowing drivers to purchase diesel fuel tax-free, claiming that price increases were caused by Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries and the closure of domestic refining facilities.