Donald Trump's Approval Rating Nosedives To New Low With Young Voters

President Donald Trump's approval rating among young voters aged 18 to 34 has plummeted to a record low of minus 44, according to Echelon Insights polling. This dramatic decline occurred just before the 2026 midterms, as Trump's improved performance with younger voters had previously helped expand his coalition and secure his re-election in 2024.

In July, Trump's youth rating was minus 30, while the overall figure was minus 23. However, by August, these figures had deteriorated significantly, with younger voters registering minus 44 and overall disapproval reaching minus 19. While younger voters did not provide Trump with an outright majority in 2024, their 47 percent support represented a notable improvement from his performance four years prior.

The shift in support from young voters could complicate the Republican party's efforts to maintain control of Congress. When asked about the economy and jobs, 40 percent of young voters cited these issues as the most important, and those prioritizing the economy were more likely to support Trump. A separate survey by HIT Strategies found that 83 percent of registered voters aged 18 to 29 were dissatisfied with the country's direction, with housing costs, basic needs, job security and artificial intelligence concerns all weighing heavily on their minds.

Despite this dissatisfaction, half of young voters had engaged in some form of political action in the past year, including boycotting businesses, signing petitions and posting about politics online. The administration has attempted to counteract poor polling by emphasizing Trump's economic achievements. The political impact of this shift in youth support remains to be seen as the midterms approach.