U.S. President Donald Trump’s approval rating among working-class Americans has dropped sharply, according to new polling.
A recent survey from The Economist/YouGov found that among people earning under $50,000 a year, 34 percent approve of the job Trump is doing as president, while 62 percent disapprove—leaving him 28 points underwater with this income group.
Why It Matters
Lower-income voters have traditionally leaned toward the Democratic Party, but Trump made notable inroads with this group in the 2024 election. Exit polling from the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research indicates that his share of the vote among those earning under $50,000 a year rose from 44 percent in 2020 to 50 percent in 2024.
If he now begins to lose support in this demographic, it could pose a serious problem for the Republican Party, particularly ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections, as the GOP works to protect its narrow majority in the House of Representatives.
What To Know
Overall, the same Economist/YouGov poll shows Trump with a net approval rating of -19 points across all income levels: 38 percent of respondents approve of his performance in office, while 57 percent disapprove.
Among higher earners, views are somewhat less negative, though still in net disapproval. Respondents making between $50,000 and $100,000 a year gave Trump a net approval rating of -12 points, while those earning over $100,000 rated him at -10.
Trend data from YouGov/Economist polling conducted October 4–6 suggests that his standing with lower-income voters has been deteriorating. In September, his net approval rating among those earning under $50,000 a year was -15 points; by October, it had fallen to -24.
The surveys do not spell out exact reasons for the shift, but the economy remains a top concern for many Americans. Trump campaigned on bringing down inflation, yet some of his economic decisions since returning to office—such as imposing new tariffs on U.S. trading partners—have drawn criticism.
The recent government shutdown also disrupted the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps about 42 million low- and no-income Americans buy food. That interruption, combined with persistent grocery inflation and broader cost-of-living worries, may have shaped how respondents judged his performance.
Mark Shanahan, who teaches American politics at the University of Surrey in the U.K., told Newsweek that “the sluggish economy” and “the increasingly ostentatious opulence” of Trump’s lifestyle may be hurting him with voters.
“There’s little spare cash in the average American’s wallet,” he said. “Every trip to the supermarket costs a little more. And unavoidable expenses such as health care premiums are turning stratospheric. Trump keeps talking about cutting the cost of living, but his rhetoric isn’t matched by delivery.”
He added that Trump appears increasingly detached from everyday struggles: frequently traveling for golf or photo opportunities and seemingly finding ways to personally profit from the presidency, from ventures involving cryptocurrency to legal battles with foreign media outlets.
In Shanahan’s view, Trump “no longer appears the outsider president fighting for the dispossessed. For many working-class Americans, he’s no longer on their side.”
Another Economist/YouGov poll recently recorded Trump’s overall approval rating at its lowest level since he returned to office in January: 39 percent approve of the job he is doing, while 58 percent disapprove, again a net rating of -19.
What People Are Saying
Earlier this month on Truth Social, Trump dismissed unfavorable surveys, writing: “So many Fake Polls are being shown by the Radical Left Media, all slanted heavily toward Democrats and Far Left Wingers. … Fake News will never change, they are evil and corrupt but, as I look around my beautiful surroundings, I say to myself, ‘Oh, look, I’m sitting in the Oval Office!’”
What Happens Next
Trump’s support across all income brackets is likely to shift as his administration pursues new economic policies and responds to voter concerns over inflation, wages, and the broader cost of living. How those policies are felt in everyday life—especially among lower-income Americans—will play a central role in determining whether his approval rebounds or continues to slide.
