Trump’s Approval Rating Among Gen Z Drops Sharply, Multiple Polls Show

Just months after outperforming expectations with younger voters in the 2024 election, President Donald Trump is now facing a sharp decline in approval from Gen Z. New polling shows a rapid drop in support among Americans aged 18 to 29, a group once considered more open to his populist message than in previous cycles.

According to CNN’s Chief Data Analyst Harry Enten, Trump’s net approval rating among Gen Z has fallen 42 points in under a year—from +10 in early 2025 to -32 by January 2026. “My goodness gracious. This is… a very swinging group, and it has swung very much away from Donald John Trump,” Enten said during a live broadcast.

The drop marks a dramatic reversal for Trump, who captured 42% of Gen Z votes in 2024—up from 35% in 2020 and just 25% in 2016, according to Pew Research data. His gains proved short-lived amid inflation, rising living costs, and a shifting generational outlook.

Disillusionment Over Economic Promises

The economy remains a top concern for Gen Z, and it’s increasingly shaping their views of Trump. While the president touts “the strongest and fastest economic turnaround in our country’s history,” recent polling paints a different picture among young people.

A February 2025 survey by AtlasIntel found Trump’s net approval among Gen Z briefly rebounded to +5.4%. But that came after a January dip to -17.4%. “These young voters are evaluating Trump through a different lens,” said Michael Strawbridge, a political science professor at Washington University in St. Louis. “Inflation and job prospects are paramount to them”.

Trump’s approval rating on the economy has slipped in broader polls as well. An AP-NORC survey cited by The Independent found 67% of U.S. adults disapprove of his handling of the economy, up from 58% just months earlier.

The Gender Gap is Driving a Wedge

The growing divide in Gen Z approval isn’t just about economics. Gender is also playing a significant role. An NBC News Decision Desk poll conducted in fall 2025 found 64% of Gen Z disapprove of Trump’s job performance overall, but the gap between young men and women is striking: 74% of women disapprove compared to 53% of men.

Trump performs better among Gen Z men on key issues like immigration and inflation, with support for his handling of deportation policies nearly doubling among men (45%) compared to women (21%). On inflation, 42% of men approve of his handling versus just 21% of women.

This gender-based polarization is mirrored in broader cultural values. Young men who voted for Trump ranked “having children” as a top success indicator, while Harris-supporting women rated it near the bottom. Emotional stability ranked high for women, but near last for Trump-aligned men.

What This Means Heading Into 2026

Looking ahead to the 2026 midterms, Trump’s declining standing with Gen Z could spell trouble for Republicans trying to maintain momentum with younger voters. The Harvard Youth Poll, released in fall 2025, showed just 29% of Gen Z approve of Trump’s job performance overall, a drop of two points since spring. Only 26% approve of his economic handling, and just 25% on healthcare.

Harvard polling director John Della Volpe said the trends point to more than political fatigue: “Their trust in democracy, the economy, and even each other is fraying—not because they are disengaged, but because they feel unheard and unprotected”.

Democrats still face challenges with enthusiasm and trust, but for now, Gen Z appears to be swinging sharply against Trump’s leadership. That shift could shape turnout, issue focus, and party strategy for years to come.