President Donald Trump has faced a steep drop in approval from a key voting bloc—parents—as his overall approval rating has continued to fall to the lowest point of his second term.
According to a new Zogby Strategies poll, Trump’s support among parents has swiftly declined in recent months. In May, 64 percent of parents said they approved of Trump’s job performance. That number fell to 62 percent in June and dropped sharply to just 50 percent in July—marking a 14-point total decline in two months.
Support among most other demographic groups has also declined, though by smaller margins.
During the same time period, Trump’s overall approval rating has slipped to an all-time low. The latest Zogby poll shows just 43 percent of voters approve of his performance, while 54 percent disapprove, marking a net approval rating of -11 points. That’s down from -8 net approval in June and -1 in May.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Economic Strain, Child Care Cuts Fuel Discontent
The downturn in support from parents comes as families are dealing with economic pressures—not just from inflation and slowing job growth, but also federal cuts to family services.
In May, Trump proposed slashing $163 billion in federal spending. That includes cutting 60 percent of the Office of Head Start’s staff since April, closing half its regional offices and delaying essential funding for payroll and rent.
According to the ACLU, those cuts have caused temporary program closures and widespread uncertainty for working families who rely on Head Start for affordable child care and early education.
Head Start is a federally funded program in the United States that provides early childhood education, health, nutrition, and family support services to low-income children and their families.
Meanwhile, the U.S. economy continues to see economic warning signs. Inflation rose to 2.7 percent in June, and job growth slowed sharply in July, with just 73,000 new jobs added—down from 147,000 the previous month, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate edged up to 4.2 percent, though it remains near historic lows.
Amid the shift in economic indicators and Trump’s tariff policies, the public’s confidence in the president’s handling of the economy and inflation is slipping.
Polls have shown a steady decline in approval ratings on the issue, with more Americans saying their financial situation has worsened during his second term.
In July, a YouGov/Economist poll showed that only 15 percent of respondents said they were better off than a year ago, compared to 36 percent who said they were worse off and 44 percent who said things were about the same. A month prior, those numbers were 16 percent, 34 percent, and 48 percent, respectively.
Others Rally Behind Trump’s Family-Focused Agenda
But not all parents are turning against Trump.
Tina Descovich, Moms for Liberty co-founder and CEO, told Newsweek: “As the largest grassroots parental right organization in the country, Moms for Liberty members are grateful President Trump is delivering on his promises to families.
“From his Executive Orders protecting our daughters in sports and in locker rooms, to his recent reviving of the Presidential Fitness Test which will encourage healthy, active lifestyles for American students, President Trump is delivering on his promises to concerned Moms and Dads across America.”
On February 5, Trump signed an executive order requiring federally funded schools to restrict women’s sports to individuals assigned female at birth, enforcing Title IX protections to ensure fairness and safety. The order also directs the Department of Education (ED) to enforce Title IX protections based on biological sex, thereby rescinding funds from programs that do not comply.
The administration argues that this measure is necessary to preserve fairness, safety, and dignity in women’s sports, but critics say the policy unlawfully discriminates against transgender girls and women by denying them participation in sports consistent with their gender identity.
In July, Trump revived the Presidential Fitness Test—discontinued in 2012—reintroducing exercises like running, sit-ups, and push-ups to promote youth fitness as part of the “Make America Healthy Again” campaign.
However, some have highlighted that past versions of the test embarrassed low-performing students and may foster body‑shaming and unhealthy self-esteem issues. They also noted that historical data showed rising youth obesity despite the test’s existence.
Polls Echo Decline—But Some Show Modest Gains
Like the Zogby poll, other polls have also shown Trump’s approval rating sliding to lows.
The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that Trump’s approval rating had dropped to 40 percent, with 56 percent disapproving, giving him a net approval rating of -16 points. The latest YouGov/Economist poll also showed Trump’s approval rating at its lowest level yet, with 40 percent approving and 55 percent disapproving.
William Hall, a political science professor, told Newsweek the decline reflects that “the honeymoon is either ending or over,” and voters are taking “a more realistic view” of Trump’s presidency.
But other polls show slight improvements: Morning Consult has Trump at 47 percent approval, with net approval rising to -3 from -7.
Newsweek’s poll tracker shows a similar uptick, with his net approval at -7 (45 percent approve, 52 percent disapprove), up from -10 last week.
Update 8/2/25, 9:12 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Descovich and additional information.
