The latest NBC News Decision Desk poll shows President Trump’s approval at 42% and disapproval at 58%, with a modest decline since April. Strong approval has fallen to 21% overall and dropped eight points among MAGA-identifying Republicans. Economic anxiety — especially over inflation, housing and food costs — is the dominant concern, hitting lower-income Americans hardest. The poll also finds a narrow trust advantage for Democrats on handling rising prices and early signs of division within Trump’s conservative coalition.
Poll: MAGA Loyalty Holds — But Cracks Are Growing As Economic Worries Rise Ahead Of 2026
A new NBC News Decision Desk poll powered by SurveyMonkey finds President Donald Trump’s overall approval remains below water as he approaches the end of his first year back in the White House, and the data show erosion within his most ardent supporters.
Headline Numbers
The online survey of 20,252 adults, conducted from Nov. 20 to Dec. 8, reports Trump’s job approval at 42% and disapproval at 58% — a three-point drop in approval from 45% across four polls since April. The poll’s margin of error is ±1.9 percentage points.
Intensity Of Support Is Shifting
Beyond the modest net decline, the poll reveals shifting intensity in opinions. The share who say they strongly approve of Trump’s performance fell to 21% (from 26% in April), while those who strongly disapprove rose to 44% (from 42%). These changes suggest a softening of fervent support even as a solid base remains.
Fractures Within Republican Ranks
Two Republican cohorts show the largest declines in intense support: self-identified Republicans who consider themselves traditional party backers, and those who identify with Trump’s MAGA movement. Strong approval among Republicans who identify More With The Republican Party Than With MAGA is now 35% (down from 38% in April). MAGA Republicans still lead in strong approval at 70%, but that is down eight points from 78% in April.
The poll also finds that fewer Republicans now describe themselves as MAGA; where a majority did so in April, Republicans are now roughly split between identifying More With The Republican Party and identifying With MAGA.
High-Profile Issues And Political Fallout
Several public controversies have weighed on opinion. Trump’s initial opposition to congressional efforts to release the so-called Jeffrey Epstein files — before he relented to bipartisan pressure — drew negative reactions from many respondents. Meanwhile, prominent conservatives such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene have publicly broken with Trump on several issues and have repositioned themselves politically, signaling emerging strains within his coalition.
Economy Is Dominant Concern
Economic worries — especially inflation and the rising costs of housing and food — are the most important issues for Americans and have eroded support even among some Republican subgroups. Overall, 64% of respondents said the country is on the wrong track, up from 60% at the start of the year.
On personal finances, 41% said their situation is about the same as a year ago, 35% said it is worse, and 24% reported being better off. Income divides are stark: 45% of those earning under $50,000 said their finances are worse, compared with 25% of those earning more than $100,000. Only 16% of the lowest earners said they were better off, versus 31% of the highest earners.
Lower-income respondents most often cited housing and food costs as their top financial problems; higher earners cited health insurance and retirement planning. As a result of budget pressures, a majority reported changing grocery purchases and cutting back on extras and entertainment, with those earning under $50,000 far more likely to have reduced holiday spending and discretionary purchases.
Political Implications
The poll shows a narrow advantage for Democrats on handling rising prices: 53% of Americans trust the Democratic Party versus 47% who trust the Republican Party. That Democratic advantage is pronounced among groups that could be decisive in 2026 turnout: African Americans (77% trust Democrats), women (61%), Latinos (60%), young people (59%), and independents (55%).
Small but meaningful shifts among groups such as 2024 Trump voters, Americans with a high school education or less, seniors (65+), and Black and Hispanic respondents could influence the midterm landscape if trends continue.
Methodology: The NBC News Decision Desk Poll powered by SurveyMonkey surveyed 20,252 adults online from Nov. 20 to Dec. 8. Margin of error: ±1.9 percentage points. Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
