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By Sam Stevenson
Associate News Editor
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President Donald Trump’s approval rating among Gen Z has fallen sharply, with new polling showing a steep drop in support among voters aged 18 to 29.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle told Newsweek in an emailed statement that the "ultimate poll was November 5, 2024, when nearly 80 million Americans overwhelmingly elected President Trump to deliver on his popular and common-sense agenda."
Why It Matters
Younger voters helped return Trump to the White House in 2024, making warning signs among Gen Z significant as the 2026 midterms approach.
Read More on Politics
Sustained erosion within that bloc could complicate Republican turnout and enthusiasm in competitive races.
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What To Know
New polling from The Economist and YouGov suggests Trump’s standing with young Americans has deteriorated rapidly over the past month.
In a survey conducted March 6 to 9, 2026, among 1,563 U.S. adult citizens, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points, Trump posted an overall approval rating of 40 percent, with 55 percent disapproving, producing a net approval (those who approve minus those who disapprove) of minus 15 points.
Among voters aged 18 to 29, often grouped as Gen Z, the numbers were notably weaker. Just 32 percent approved of Trump’s job performance, while 60 percent disapproved, translating to a net approval rating of minus 28.
A follow‑up Economist/YouGov poll conducted March 13 to 16, 2026, among 1,595 U.S. adult citizens, with a plus or minus 3.3 percentage point margin of error, shows that decline accelerating.
Overall approval slipped to 37 percent, while disapproval rose to 56 percent, pushing Trump’s net approval to minus 19.
Within Gen Z, approval dropped to 25 percent, while disapproval stood at 64 percent. That produced a net approval rating of minus 39, marking an 11‑point net swing in the wrong direction for Trump in just over a week.
The shift represents a collapse in support among younger voters, even as Trump’s broader numbers moved only modestly over the same period, according to this particular polling series.
However, polling analysts caution against reading too much into short‑term movement.
Brett Loyd, polling and research specialist for the Independent Center, told Newsweek that traditional approval ratings now offer limited insight on their own.
“Presidential approval remains a functional barometer for tracking the momentum of an administration’s start and finish, but its day‑to‑day utility has diminished,” Loyd said.
“In this polarized era, partisan lenses create a floor and ceiling that rarely budge. If you're a Democrat, you disapprove of a Republican President and vice versa. This makes the sentiment of nonpartisan and independent voters the only truly valuable metric left for measuring genuine shifts in leadership standing.”
The Independent Center describes itself as a nonpartisan organization focused on Americans who do not strongly identify with either major political party. According to its website, the group aims to serve as a “resource hub and champion for the millions of Americans who believe we share common ground.”
What People Are Saying
White House spokesman Davis Ingle told Newsweek: “The ultimate poll was November 5, 2024, when nearly 80 million Americans overwhelmingly elected President Trump to deliver on his popular and common‑sense agenda.
“The president has already made historic progress not only in America but around the world. It is not surprising that President Trump remains the most dominant figure in American politics.”
Loyd told Newsweek: "Issue trust is the real game‑changer here. You can tell me someone’s age or where they live, and I’m still basically guessing, but tell me if they’re 'sour' or 'happy' with the economy and I’ve got a much better lead on their vote. At the end of the day, if a voter feels like the economy isn't working for them, they're going to vote for change regardless of what demographic bucket they fall into."
What Happens Next
Attention now turns to whether Gen Z dissatisfaction hardens into disengagement or motivates turnout as campaign season intensifies.
With economic confidence, foreign policy, and legislative fights set to dominate the national agenda, younger voters could test how durable Trump’s coalition remains heading into the midterms.
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