Trump support ‘cratering’ with a loyal voter base on this major issue for the first time
The president's most loyal supporters are souring on him.
Ryan Cooper 
For the first time since launching his political career, President Donald Trump is facing a significant shift in sentiment from one of his most reliable voting blocs. A majority of blue-collar white voters now disapprove of the president’s performance on the economy, marking a sharp departure from the support he once enjoyed.
A Shift in Economic Approval
According to a New York Times analysis of recent polling, the landscape has changed drastically. During his 2018 midterm elections, Trump maintained a net approval rating of +30 points or higher on the economy among white voters without college degrees. Today, that same demographic shows a disapproval rating ranging from -14 to -30 points.
As noted by The Times’ Shane Goldmacher, this dip in economic approval is occurring across nearly every group. However, the decline among this specific foundation of his coalition could prove to be a defining factor in the 2026 midterms. Current figures show approval ratings for Trump on the economy among these voters ranging from 33% in a Fox News survey to 47% in the New York Times/Siena College poll.
Historical Context and Future Concerns
White blue-collar workers were instrumental in building the Trump coalition. CNN exit polls from 2016 showed him dominating this group with 66% of the vote compared to 29% for Hillary Clinton. He maintained that grip in 2024, securing 66% of white voters without college degrees against 32% for former Vice President Kamala Harris, according to exit polling data.
Republican strategists are now sounding the alarm to 205focus.com, expressing concerns that if these voters remain dissatisfied with the current economic climate, they may choose to stay home this November, potentially handing control of Congress to the Democrats.
Struggles Beyond General Economic Metrics
The administration’s fiscal challenges extend to specific metrics as well. In recent polling, only 25% of blue-collar white voters approved of Trump’s handling of inflation in the Fox News survey. Similarly, only 36% of these voters expressed approval regarding his management of the cost of living in the New York Times poll.
