Donald Trump’s Approval Rating Erodes With Male Voters Before Midterms

President Donald Trump's approval rating among male voters has dipped significantly, falling eight points to a net negative 19 in the latest Economist/YouGov poll, according to a Newsweek analysis. This represents his weakest performance among men in five comparable registered-voter surveys since September. While Trump's approval has fluctuated within a narrow range before this sharp decline, political scientists believe the latest movement is meaningful.

James Druckman, a political science professor at the University of Rochester, stated that the trend "likely is meaningful, especially because it tracks the general trends." Michael Montgomery, a political scientist and lecturer at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, affirmed that the five-poll sequence provides credible evidence that Trump's support among men is weakening.

The White House spokesman, Davis Ingle, defended Trump, claiming he remains the "unequivocal leader, best messenger, and unmatched motivator for the Republican Party."

The decline in Trump's approval rating among men could concern Republicans before the midterms, as male voters have been a crucial part of his electoral coalition. In the October 10–12 poll, 40 percent of men approved of Trump's performance, while 59 percent disapproved, resulting in a net rating of negative 19. This was an eight-point deterioration from the October 2–5 survey, where Trump's approval among men stood at 44 percent and disapproval at 55 percent.

Previous polls show that Trump's approval among men has not shown a continuous decline. His approval fluctuated between 42-44 percent in the September 4–8 and September 18–21 polls, respectively. Experts warn that if Republican candidates cannot attract the votes of Republican men or mobilize them to vote, they might not perform well in the election.

Karen Beckwith, a political science professor at Case Western Reserve University, highlighted the importance of the "gender gap" in American politics and the potential damage if Republican candidates fail to mobilize Republican men to turn out to vote.

Experts attribute the dissatisfaction to personal finances, particularly rising fuel costs, inflation, energy prices, healthcare costs, and taxes. Younger, rural, and non-college-educated men are seen as the most vulnerable demographic. Foreign policy issues, such as opposition to overseas wars, could also strain this constituency.