President Donald Trump is reportedly facing a dip in support from working-class Americans, according to a new wave of polling that mainstream media outlets are rushing to highlight. The Economist/YouGov survey claims that voters earning under $50,000 a year give Trump a 34% approval rating and a 62% disapproval rating, leaving him 28 points underwater with that income group.
Working-Class Voters Were Once a Key Strength for Trump
Despite traditionally voting Democrat, lower-income Americans shifted dramatically toward Trump in both 2016 and 2024. In fact, exit polls show he boosted his support among those earning under $50,000 from 44% in 2020 to 50% in 2024—a historic realignment that rattled Democratic strategists.
Now, pollsters claim that same group is showing signs of frustration, a development that could complicate Republican efforts to protect their narrow majority heading into the 2026 midterms.
Poll Finds Trump Underwater Across Income Levels
The Economist/YouGov poll also reports Trump’s overall approval rating at 38% approval and 57% disapproval, giving him a net rating of -19 points. Even among middle- and upper-income Americans, Trump is still slightly underwater:
- $50K–$100K earners: -12 net approval
- $100K+ earners: -10 net approval
Other YouGov polling has also echoed this decline, claiming Trump’s net approval among voters under $50,000 dropped from -15 in September to -24 by early October.
Why the Shift? Pollsters Offer No Explanation—But the Media Tries
While the polling does not specify reasons, media analysts and left-leaning academics have been quick to fill in the gaps, pointing to:
- Ongoing inflation pressures
- Rising grocery and fuel costs
- Frustration over the recent government shutdown
- Federal food-assistance disruptions affecting 42 million Americans
- High health insurance premiums
- Media narratives about Trump’s wealth and lifestyle
Critics also blame Trump’s tariff policies, though many economists argue these tariffs are long-term economic defenses that protect American jobs and manufacturing.
Media Eager to Frame Trump as “Out of Touch”
Some commentators—particularly from foreign universities often quoted by liberal outlets—argue Trump appears less like a “fighter for the forgotten” and more like a wealthy insider. They claim his lifestyle, travel, and business dealings distract from economic frustrations hitting middle- and working-class families.
Of course, these are the same voices who insisted Trump couldn’t win in 2016 or 2024.
Trump Fires Back at the Polls
The president dismissed the negative polling on Truth Social earlier this month, saying:
“The Radical Left Media keeps pumping out bogus polls—every one tilted toward Democrats and the far-left crowd. The Fake News never stops. But then I look around at where I’m sitting and think, ‘Well, here I am in the Oval Office.’”
Trump supporters argue the real numbers will shift once the administration’s economic policies take full effect.
Approval Ratings Likely to Shift as Economic Policies Roll Out
Historically, Trump’s numbers have moved sharply in response to:
- new economic measures
- tariff announcements
- border security crackdowns
- victories against Washington bureaucrats
- national security events
As his second-term agenda continues—focused on lowering inflation, restoring manufacturing, securing the border, and defending American workers—voter sentiment may change significantly.
For now, mainstream media outlets are using every negative metric they can find. But many conservatives see this as a familiar tactic: polls designed to shape opinion, not measure it.