By Kate PlummerShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberPresident Donald Trump's approval rating among Gen Z Americans has improved, according to a new poll.
Polling by The Economist/YouGov shows that while it is still underwater, Trump's net approval among adults ages 18 to 29 has increased from -55 percentage points to -34 points in November.
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for comment.
Why It Matters
A conservative shift among Gen Z voters proved key to Trump's success in the November 2024 election.
According to AP VoteCast, the proportion of voters ages 18 to 29 who supported the Democratic presidential candidate decreased from 61 percent in the 2020 presidential election to 51 percent in 2024.
If this trend continues, it could prove damaging to Democrats in the November 2026 midterms as they seek to dent the GOP's slim majority in the House of Representatives.
...What To Know
The polling showed that in September, Trump's net approval rating among Gen Z voters was -40 points, with 24 percent approving of his job performance and 64 percent disapproving.
In October, it plummeted further to -55 percentage points. At the time, 20 percent approved of Trump, while 75 percent disapproved. At the time, the government was in shutdown, potentially influencing the poll's outcome.
But in November, the shutdown ended, Trump's fortunes improved, and with 29 percent approving of him and 63 percent disapproving, his net approval rating has increased slightly to -34 percentage points.
Other polls show Trump's approval rating among this demographic has been in flux.
In July, AtlasIntel polling found that 35 percent of Gen Z adults approved of Trump, while 65 percent disapproved, leaving him with a net approval rating of -30 percentage points.
By September, 49 percent said they approved of Trump while 44 percent said they disapproved, giving him a net approval rating of +5 percentage points.
Speaking to Newsweek, Scott Lucas, a professor of international politics at University College Dublin, said the economy and "disruption" would keep Trump's approval rating low, and if it doesn't improve, he will become "increasingly unpopular."
"Prices are rising, especially on basic food items. Unemployment is not shifting," Lucas said.
A recent poll by The Economist/YouGov found Trump’s approval rating at its lowest level since he returned to office in January, with 39 percent approving of the job he is doing and 58 percent disapproving, a net approval rating of -19 points.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump said on Truth Social earlier this month: "So many Fake Polls are being shown by the Radical Left Media, all slanted heavily toward Democrats and Far Left Wingers…Fake News will never change, they are evil and corrupt but, as I look around my beautiful surroundings, I say to myself, 'Oh, look, I’m sitting in the Oval Office!'"
What Happens Next
As his presidency continues, Trump's popularity will likely fluctuate among different age groups. The extent to which he commands the country's support will be tested when voters head to the midterms in November 2026.
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