New Poll Shows a Rare Slip in Trump’s Approval Among His Own Base
President Donald Trump is still the dominant force in Republican politics, but even his loyal MAGA voters are showing small signs of wavering.
A new Pew Research poll (Aug. 4–10, 3,554 respondents) reveals that Trump’s approval rating among his 2024 supporters has dipped from 88% in June to 85% now. At the start of his second term, his base support stood at a commanding 95%. While the numbers remain strong, this gradual slide signals a rare moment of vulnerability for the 45th president.
National Approval Takes a Hit
Trump’s overall national approval now stands at 38% approval and 60% disapproval, down from 47% in January. Even Newsweek’s tracker shows his net approval slipping from +2 in March to -8 today.
Among Republicans overall, support is still sky-high at 93%, but that’s down from 96% earlier in his term. The sharpest erosion is among GOP-leaning independents and Republicans less tied to the party—only six in ten approve today, compared with three-quarters when Trump’s second term began.
Republican Support for Trump’s Agenda Softens
Support for Trump’s America First policies is also dipping. Only 58% of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents now say they support “all or most” of his policies—down from two-thirds earlier this year.
Among Democrats, opposition remains fierce—88% say they support “few or none” of his policies, up from 84% in February. More than half of Democrats oppose all of his policies outright.
Foreign Policy Polling Slips as Trump Presses Putin for Peace
On the Russia-Ukraine war, confidence among Republicans in Trump’s decision-making fell from 81% last year to 73% now. The polling comes as Trump is in Alaska for high-stakes peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is not at the summit in person, but Trump held a virtual call with him and European leaders earlier this week. Trump has warned Russia of new sanctions and tariffs if they refuse to agree to a ceasefire. He admitted there is a “25% chance” the meeting could fail but insisted peace is still possible.
Tariffs Bring in Billions—But at a Cost
Republicans largely back Trump’s new import tariffs, with 52% saying they will help the country. But only 40% believe they will personally benefit, and economists warn of rising consumer prices.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick estimates $50 billion per month in new tariff revenue. But JPMorgan warns 60% of the costs will be passed to shoppers through higher prices.
Inflation and Job Growth Remain Key Challenges
Despite Trump’s promise to “end inflation” on day one of his second term, inflation ticked up to 2.7% in June. Job growth slowed sharply in July, with just 73,000 jobs added compared to 147,000 the month before.
Republican confidence in Trump’s economic leadership has dipped—YouGov/Economist polling shows approval dropping from 90% in January to 79% now. On inflation specifically, approval fell from 84% to 72%, with disapproval rising from 4% to 22%.
GOP Trust in Trump Remains Strong—But Down Slightly
Most Republicans still view Trump as honest and trustworthy, but that number has dropped from 77% in January to 71% in August. The percentage who now consider him untrustworthy doubled from 7% to 14%.
Optimism about the country’s direction is also slightly lower—68% of Republicans say the U.S. is on the right track, down from 74% in May.
Trump Eyes Second Alaska Summit
Despite the polling dip, Trump is pushing forward. He hinted Thursday that Zelensky could join him and Putin in Alaska for a second round of talks if Friday’s meeting shows progress.
“Staying here would be by far the easiest way to keep the talks moving,” Trump told a radio interviewer.
Key Takeaway:
Trump remains the overwhelming favorite among Republicans, but these latest numbers are a reminder that even the strongest political base can show cracks under the weight of economic concerns, foreign policy challenges, and relentless media scrutiny.