President Donald Trump’s approval rating among Black voters has dropped sharply in recent months, according to the latest The Economist/YouGov poll.
Why It Matters
Several recent polls have found Trump’s net approval rating is underwater, with voters expressing discontent on issues from the economy to immigration.
The 2024 election saw Trump pick up a significant share of Black voters—securing 16 percent—and any erosion in support could be problematic for Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
What To Know
Trump’s net approval rating among Black voters has dropped by 25 points since May, according to The Economist/YouGov polls.
The most recent poll, conducted between August 1 and 4 among 1,702 U.S. adults, found just 11 percent of Black respondents approve of Trump’s job performance, while 84 percent disapprove, giving him a net approval rating of -73.
In the survey conducted in early May, 22 percent of Black voters said they approved of the job Trump was doing, while 69 percent disapproved, giving him a net approval rating of -47. Trump’s net approval ratings among Black voters in polls conducted in June and July were -54 and -64 respectively.
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The August survey found that Black voters were the demographic least approving of the way Trump is handling issues including the economy, inflation and others.
Only 9 percent of Black voters said they approved of the way Trump is handling jobs and the economy—down from 24 percent in May. In comparison, 47 percent of white voters and 38 percent of Hispanic voters said they approved of the way the president was handling those issues.
When it came to inflation, just 8 percent of Black voters said they approved of the job Trump was doing (down from 19 percent in May), while 41 percent of white voters said they approved, and 34 percent of Hispanic voters said the same.
What People Are Saying
Craig Agranoff, a political analyst and adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University, told Newsweek that the drop in Trump’s approval rating among Black voters “likely stems from growing economic dissatisfaction and a perception that his policies do not address their concerns.
“The surveys show fewer Black voters approve of Trump on jobs and the economy, indicating they may be feeling the impact of inflation and other economic pressures more acutely than other demographics.
“Additionally, his immigration rhetoric and law enforcement focus could alienate Black voters who see these as threats to civil rights and opportunity, reflecting a broader pattern where this group responds negatively to policies perceived as exacerbating social and economic challenges.”
Costas Panagopoulos, a professor of political science at Northeastern University, told Newsweek: “The deterioration in Trump approval among Black voters suggests they likely oppose his policies and believe he has failed to deliver on campaign promises that were top priorities for them, especially on the economy.
“The administration’s actions on things like affirmative action and other policies that are important to Black voters also do not sit well with these voters. Even symbolic actions, like erasing ‘Black Lives Matter’ plaza in Washington D.C., take a toll on Black support for the president.
“The latest poll readings are much more closely aligned with Black support for Republican presidents historically, so we may also be seeing a reversion to more typical ratings for Black voters.”
What’s Next
Trump’s approval rating will likely to continue to fluctuate as he implements his policy agenda.
It remains to be seen whether it will have an impact on the 2026 midterm elections.
