President Donald Trump’s support among white voters has dropped to the lowest point of his second term, according to a new poll, raising alarm bells for the Republican Party ahead of next year’s midterm elections.
The Economist/YouGov survey found 47 percent of white voters approve of the way Trump is handling his job as president, while 50 percent disapprove, putting his net approval rating among this key group at -3 points.
White voters have long been a cornerstone of Trump’s political base. More than 8 in 10 Trump voters in the 2024 election were white, according to The Associated Press. Any erosion of support in this demographic, which makes up the bulk of the electorate, could complicate Trump’s path in 2026.
The poll marks the lowest net approval rating among white voters since a previous low of -2 points in July, when 47 percent approved and 49 percent disapproved. Overall, the latest survey shows Trump’s general approval rating at its lowest since he returned to office in January: just 39 percent approve, while 58 percent disapprove, resulting in a net 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 widespread disapproval of Trump’s handling of major issues. His net approval rating stood at -22 on jobs and the economy, -31 on inflation, and -10 on immigration. Controversial decisions, like the $300 million demolition of the East Wing of the White House to construct a new ballroom, also drew criticism. Nationally, 61 percent disapprove, with just 25 percent approving. Among white voters, 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 was plus or minus 3.4 percent for adults and plus or minus 3.1 percent for registered voters.
Experts say the slide in support reflects broader dissatisfaction across demographics. Peter Loge, a professor of media and public affairs at George Washington University, said, “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, pointed to multiple factors behind the decline: “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.”
Despite the poor numbers, Trump pushed back, telling reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday: “I have my best numbers ever.”
With the 2026 midterm elections approaching and the federal government shutdown ongoing, Trump’s approval ratings among white voters—and across other key demographics—are likely to continue fluctuating in the coming months.
