...
By Martha McHardy
US News Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
President Donald Trump’s approval rating has begun to slip even among his own supporters, according to new polling.
A YouGov/Economist survey, conducted between October 31 and November 3, shows Trump’s net approval among those who voted for him has dropped to +70, down four points from late summer. In August, his approval among supporters stood at +74, falling slightly to +73 in September before reaching its current low amid the government shutdown.
Why It Matters
The decline in Trump’s approval among his own supporters signals potential cracks in his political base at a time when he can least afford them. While his core voters have historically remained steadfast through controversy, the erosion suggests that the real-world effects of the government shutdown—particularly cuts to benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—are beginning to outweigh partisan loyalty for some. If this trend deepens, it could complicate Trump’s ability to maintain momentum heading into the midterms and weaken Republican leverage in Congress.
Read More on Politics
What To Know
Trump's sinking approval ratings coincide with the current government shutdown, which has become the longest in history this week, as it surpassed the 36-day mark on Wednesday.
The president's ratings initially appeared unaffected by the shutdown, but as it has entered its second month, polls have suggested that discontent is growing.
...
The shutdown has sharply curtailed food assistance for millions of Americans, fueling public anger toward Trump’s administration. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been forced to use a $4.65 billion emergency fund to keep SNAP running, but most of the 42 million recipients are receiving only about 65 percent of their usual benefits.
Two federal judges ruled that halting payments was unlawful, ordering the government to resume full funding. Trump, however, defended his stance on Truth Social, saying benefits would resume “only when the radical left Democrats open up government.”
Democrats accused him of attempting to “weaponize hunger” to force concessions on spending negotiations, as hundreds of thousands of federal workers remain furloughed and GOP leaders offer limited reversals of earlier staff cuts.
Amid the uncertainty, polls have shown Trump's approval rating hitting an all-time low for his second term this week.
In Newsweek's tracker this week, Trump's net approval reached -13 points, with 55 percent disapproving and 42 percent approving. That is down from -10 points two weeks ago.
And that discontent seems to be trickling down to Trump's own supporters. YouGov/Economist polling shows that Trump's approval rating for his handling of the shutdown among his own supporters has dropped by 7 points since the beginning of October, from +78 percent to +71 percent.
The poll also showed that 54 percent of Trump supporters think SNAP benefits should be paid during the shutdown. Altogether, 19 percent of Trump supporters reported that they or their family members received SNAP benefits.
On jobs and the economy in general, Trump's net approval among his supporters has dropped by 8 points since September, from +70 points to +62 points.
Democratic strategist Matt McDermott said the weakening support is a reflection of rising economic anxiety across the country.
“Voters are frustrated—and for good reason,” he told Newsweek. “Energy prices heading into winter are skyrocketing. Grocery prices are up across the board. Inflation has been made worse by Trump’s own tariffs. And the job market is weakening. It’s a perfect storm of economic anxiety, and Trump’s telling voters he doesn’t want to talk about it.”
McDermott said the government shutdown has only made matters worse.
“Add to that a historically long shutdown—with Republicans cutting SNAP benefits even as courts demand those payments continue—and it’s clear why even his own supporters are souring,” he said. “Trump’s problem is simple: voters are struggling, and he’s acting like he doesn’t care. You can’t tell Americans who can’t afford groceries that you don’t want to talk about the cost of living.”
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) warned that the ongoing government shutdown is taking a significant toll on the economy, projecting it could shave between one and 2 percentage points off U.S. GDP growth. In a letter released last week, the nonpartisan agency stated that the economic drag will worsen the longer the impasse continues.
The CBO estimated that the shutdown is costing the economy between $7 billion and $14 billion.
“The current shutdown looks likely to have the greatest economic impact of any shutdown on record,” Alec Phillips, chief political economist at Goldman Sachs, wrote in a recent report, according to CNN.
McDermott added that the longer the shutdown continues, the more politically damaging it could become for the president. “The longer this shutdown drags on, the more Trump looks out of touch with the economic pain he helped create,” he said.
What Happens Next
Meanwhile, the shutdown continues as lawmakers attempt to reach a solution to open the government.
Another vote to end the shutdown is scheduled for Friday. "My hopes and expectations are always that we're going to have enough Democrats to actually proceed, but I don't know, we'll see," Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday. "They seem to be walking back or slow-walking this, and it's what they asked for."
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines