President Donald Trump’s job approval rating among white voters has fallen to the lowest point of his second term, according to a new poll.
The Economist/YouGov survey found 47 percent said they approve of the way Trump is handling his job as president, while 50 percent disapprove, putting Trump’s net approval rating at -3 points.
Why It Matters
White voters have long been a crucial pillar in Trump’s political base and are generally the most likely to approve of his job performance. More than 8 in 10 Trump voters in the 2024 election were white, according to The Associated Press.
Any loss in support from white voters, who make up the bulk of the voting electorate in the United States, could spell trouble for Trump and the Republican Party in next year’s midterm elections.
What To Know
The poll recorded Trump’s lowest net approval rating among white people since a previous low of -2 points in July. The Economist/YouGov poll that month found 47 percent of white people approved of the job Trump was doing, while 49 percent said they disapproved.
Overall, the latest poll found Trump’s approval rating at its lowest level since he returned to office in January.
Just 39 percent of people approve of the job he is doing, while 58 percent disapprove, resulting in a net approval rating of -19 points.
“This is the lowest net approval Trump has received in any Economist/YouGov Poll in Trump’s second term, and lower than all but one poll in his first term,” YouGov Public Relations Lead Allen Houston said in an email to Newsweek on Tuesday.
The survey found more Americans disapprove than approve of how Trump is handling major issues, including immigration, the economy and inflation. His net approval rating on jobs and the economy stood at -22, while it was at -31 on inflation and -10 on immigration.
It also found that a majority of Americans (61 percent) disapprove of Trump’s demolition of the East Wing of the White House to construct a $300 million ballroom, while just 25 percent approve. Among white people, 57 percent disapprove, while 30 percent approve.
The poll surveyed 1,623 U.S. adults, including 1,476 registered voters, between October 24 and 27. The margin of error for adults was plus or minus 3.4 percent and plus or minus 3.1 percent for registered voters.
What People Are Saying
Peter Loge, a professor of media and public affairs at George Washington University, told Newsweek that Trump: “has a net negative approval rating among white voters for the same reason he has a net negative approval rating among every other demographic. Voters’ top concerns are inflation, the economy, and jobs. A majority of voters regardless of race, age, gender, and income bracket think Trump is handling those issues poorly. A majority of every demographic group has only some or very little faith in the presidency, in part because a majority of every demographic group has little faith in the president.”
Grant Davis Reeher, a professor of political science at Syracuse University, told Newsweek that the reason is “almost like a dealer’s choice, given all that’s happening.”
He said: “The ongoing shutdown is probably not helping. Some of the people in that demographic group are being affected by that, and the others may not like what they’re reading about it. There are the on-again, off-again tariffs, which may be getting frustrating for the business owners and those in the corporate sector. There is persistent inflation, which is concerning many, and all are directly experiencing. Some of the visuals and stories from the crackdown on illegal immigration have not made the administration look good. The negative press from other arguably smaller things, like the reconstruction of the East Wing of the White House, may be having a shorter-term effect.”
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday: “I have my best numbers ever.”
What’s Next
Trump’s approval rating among white people and other demographics is likely to continue to fluctuate, especially as the federal government shutdown continues. Other developments in the coming months could also influence his approval ratings ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Source link
