Donald Trump's Approval Rating Plunges With Millennials

Newsweek

2 days ago

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President Donald Trump's approval rating has collapsed with millennials, according to a new poll.
According to the latest YouGov/Economist poll, conducted between June 6-9 among 1,533 adults, Trump's approval rating among millennials sits at 40 percent, while 53 percent disapprove.
That is down from the previous poll, conducted between May 30-June 2 among 1,610 adults, when 48 percent of millennials approved of Trump's job performance and 46 percent disapproved.
Both polls had a margin of error of about +/- 3 percentage points.
Why It Matters
Millennials, typically defined as people born between 1981 and 1996, represent the largest bloc of the U.S. electorate. Trump had reduced the Democrats' lead among voters aged 30 to 44 by 9 points between 2020 and 2024, from 12 points to 3.
The latest shift in poll numbers appears to be linked to Trump's deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles following reported violence against law enforcement, specifically Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents carrying out deportation raids in the city. Local Democratic leaders had opposed the move, accusing the Republican president of fueling the disorder.
What To Know
Trump's slipping approval rating among millennials appears to be driven by growing discontent over his handling of key issues like the economy and immigration, according to new polling data.
The latest YouGov/Economist survey shows that Trump's economic approval among millennials fell 5 points in the past week—from 43 percent to 38 percent. His rating on inflation and prices also declined, dropping from 39 percent to 33 percent.
This marks a break from a broader trend of modest recovery in Trump's economic numbers, which had begun rebounding after a sharp dip in April caused by the announcement of his "Liberation Day" tariffs. That policy initially rattled financial markets, leading to a sell-off before stabilizing in subsequent weeks.
However, millennials remain unconvinced. According to the poll, 45 percent of millennials now say they believe the economy is getting worse.
The latest inflation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, released Wednesday, suggests that price growth remains under control. Both overall and core consumer prices rose just 0.1 percent in May—slower than in April. Year-over-year inflation ticked up slightly to 2.4 percent, but still came in below expectations.
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after arriving on Air Force One, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Md.
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after arriving on Air Force One, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Md.
Alex Brandon/AP
On immigration, Trump's support among millennials has also slipped, falling from 51 percent to 47 percent over the past week.
The shift comes as Trump deployed the National Guard and later 700 Marines to Los Angeles, responding to reports of violence targeting law enforcement—particularly Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents carrying out deportation raids. California Governor Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass said state and local authorities could handle the situation without the National Guard, but Trump said he was reestablishing law and order after failures by local and state leadership.
The move is part of Trump's pledge to carry out the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history, which has included sweeping ICE raids nationwide.
Protests have erupted in major cities including Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, Dallas, and Washington, D.C., in response. Despite the backlash, polling shows Trump's tough-on-immigration stance is resonating with much of the electorate.
In a striking reversal from his first term, Trump now holds a net-positive rating on immigration—a shift from -21 in June 2017 to +1 today—his largest net gain on any issue, according to CNN's Harry Enten.
Millennials, however, appear less receptive. The YouGov/Economist poll found that 48 percent of millennials believe Trump's approach to immigration is too harsh.
Experts say declining millennial support for Trump may reflect both unmet expectations and growing unease with his second-term policies.
Thomas Gift, a political science professor at University College London, told Newsweek millennial voters may simply be "reverting to the mean in expressing more progressive positions on issues."
He noted that while Trump made gains with millennial voters, "most favored [Democratic candidate Kamala] Harris on net." Gift added that many younger voters may now be feeling "buyer's remorse," as the president's promises of "sweeping national renewal, lower prices for everyday items, and an explosion in jobs" have gone largely unfulfilled.
Lucas Walsh, a youth political behavior expert at Monash University, pointed to "a struggling economy, uncertainty and unrest on some university campuses and the chaotic world of the second Trump term" as key drivers.
He told Newsweek that "uncertainty is a through line across these factors," and said a broader distrust in government—"preceding Trump but…inflamed by his intervention in California"—may be deepening youth disillusionment.
Trump's overall approval rating slightly mirrors the downturn. The same poll found his approval rating has dropped to 43 percent (from 45 percent the previous week), while disapproval rose to 52 percent (up from 49 percent).
In other polls, Trump's approval rating appears stable—or even improving.
The latest ActiVote poll shows Trump with 46 percent approval and 50 percent disapproval, up slightly from 45–51 in May. This uptick breaks a steady monthly decline that had persisted since January. Notably, Trump's May numbers outperformed his own first-term average (41 percent) and surpassed Joe Biden's full-term average (41 percent) and final-year rating (40 percent). The ActiVote poll has a margin of error of ±4.4 points.
The Trafalgar Group, in a poll conducted May 30–June 1, gave Trump a net approval of +8 (54 percent approve, 46 percent disapprove). That's up from 46–44 in an Insider Advantage survey conducted April 30–May 1.
Newsweek's poll tracker also shows upward momentum: Trump's average approval stands at 48 percent, while 50 percent disapprove. A week ago, those numbers were 47–49; a month ago, 44–mid-50s.
The latest Quantus Insights poll puts Trump at 49 percent approval—up one point from last month—with disapproval steady at 48 percent.
In the most recent Morning Consult survey, Trump's approval rose to 47 percent (up from 46 percent the prior week), while 51 percent disapprove—for the third week in a row.
The latest CBS/YouGov poll shows no change: 45 percent approve, while 55 percent disapprove—unchanged for the second consecutive month.
What People Are Saying
Thomas Gift, an associate professor of political science and director of the Centre on U.S. Politics at University College London, told Newsweek: "It's important to remember that while Trump made significant progress in courting young voters, most favored Harris on net. What we could be seeing is simply young people reverting to the mean in expressing more progressive positions on issues.
"That's likely exacerbated by unfulfilled expectations. Trump promised sweeping national renewal, lower prices for everyday items, and an explosion in jobs from day one of him taking office. When those promises go unfilled, voters—including the under 30 crowd—will inevitably feel buyer's remorse."
Lucas Walsh, a youth political behavior expert and a professor at Monash University in Australia, told Newsweek: "A combination of factors could explain the downturn in support. A struggling economy, uncertainty and unrest on some university campuses and the chaotic world of the second Trump term will be playing their part. Uncertainty is a through line across these factors as a major concern of young people (just like many older folk).
"A second through line is a long term, declining distrust in governments in general. This precedes Trump, but might be inflamed by his intervention in California. We're seeing brute, masked forces taking people off the streets without due process, plus the additional federal intervention of the National Guard.
"The youth vote has, to a limited extent, swayed more liberal on immigration in the past. But I wonder if more is going on here; namely, young people might be asking: "could this happen to me or someone I know?"
What Happens Next
Trump's approval rating among millennials could fluctuate in the coming weeks, depending on the outcome of key events, namely how expected upcoming demonstrations against ICE actions unfold in Los Angeles and in other major cities.