President Donald Trump just got hit with a political red flag.
New polling shows his approval rating among young Americans has taken a sudden nosedive. But the liberal media is celebrating too soon.
According to new data analyzed by journalist G. Elliott Morris, Trump’s approval among voters aged 18 to 29 has dropped 35 points since November 2024 — a number he claims signals trouble for the GOP. The data, posted on his Substack Strength in Numbers, has Democrats giddy and Republicans cautious heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
White House Fires Back: “Trump Is Delivering — Period.”
A defiant White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Newsweek that the president remains laser-focused on keeping his promises — securing the southern border, restoring American manufacturing, and defeating the inflation crisis Joe Biden left behind.
“That’s why over 57% of Americans approve of the president’s leadership,” Jackson said, pointing to the latest Rasmussen Reports poll. “The American people see the results — jobs, lower prices, and safer communities.”
Younger Voters in Play — Again
Young voters helped Trump flip key battlegrounds in 2024 after years of Democratic dominance. While Joe Biden carried 61% of voters aged 18 to 29 in 2020, Kamala Harris managed just 51% in 2024, with Trump closing the gap to 47%.
If that momentum is fading, some strategists warn it could slow the GOP’s growing appeal among younger Americans — especially those fed up with liberal hypocrisy, censorship, and high living costs under Biden-era policies.
What the Polls Really Say
Morris claims Trump’s youth approval has fallen from -3 to -38, blaming the dip on “tariffs and immigration policies.” But other surveys paint a far different picture.
Polling by AtlasIntel shows Trump’s approval climbing 35 points among young adults in just two months. And a YouGov/The Economist poll found his Gen Z approval improving by 10 points this summer — a sign the media narrative may be wildly overstated.
Critics and Commentators Pile On
Liberal activist Olivia Julianna accused Trump of “culture war distractions,” claiming he’s “more focused on fighting celebrities than lowering grocery prices.”
But conservative analysts say that criticism falls flat with voters who remember the booming Trump economy and secure border of his first term — especially older Americans who’ve seen this movie before.
“They tried to bury Reagan in the polls too,” one strategist told Fox. “We know how that turned out.”
The Bigger Picture
Boston University professor Thomas Whalen told Newsweek that young voters see both Biden and Trump as “old and out of touch.” But Whalen admits that Trump still commands loyalty among millions who believe he’s fighting for America’s future.
The Road to 2026
Trump’s approval ratings — good or bad — have always fluctuated wildly. But history shows he performs best when underestimated. The real test will come in November 2026, when voters decide whether to strengthen Trump’s hand in Congress or hand power back to the same Democrats who wrecked the economy under Biden.
For now, one thing is certain: the political establishment may be celebrating too soon — and they’ve underestimated Donald Trump before.