The latest Economist/YouGov poll (Aug. 14–17, 2026) shows President Trump's approval among millennials (ages 30–44) has fallen to 26%, down from 29% a week earlier and marking a fifth straight week of decline or stagnation. Overall approval in the survey is 35% with 61% disapproving; the poll sampled 1,611 adults (MOE ±3.4%). Younger voters also give low marks on foreign policy and tariffs, and other recent polls (Echelon, Reuters/Ipsos) show similar weakness among younger cohorts.
Millennial Support Slips: Trump Approval Falls to 26% in Economist/YouGov Poll
President Donald Trump pauses while delivering remarks at the David S. Mack Center for Training and Intelligence on August 14, 2026, in Garden City, New York. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump's approval among millennials has declined again, according to the latest Economist/YouGov survey, reinforcing a broader trend of weaker support from younger Americans as the 2026 midterms approach.
The Economist/YouGov poll, conducted Aug. 14–17, 2026, found that just 26% of adults aged 30–44 — the cohort commonly defined as millennials — approve of the job Trump is doing as president. That is down from 29% a week earlier and marks the fifth consecutive week that approval among this group has either fallen or remained flat.
Across the full sample, the poll reports a 35% overall approval rating for Trump and 61% disapproval. The survey sampled 1,611 U.S. adults and carries a margin of error of ±3.4 percentage points.
Where Young Voters Stand
The poll shows particularly negative views from the youngest voters: among those aged 18–29, 30% approve of Trump's overall job performance while 67% disapprove. For voters aged 30–44, approval is 26% and disapproval is 70%.
On issue-specific ratings, younger voters are especially critical. Among 18–29-year-olds, 24% approve of his handling of foreign policy and 25% approve of his handling of tariffs. Millennials are even less favorable on those topics, with 21% approving of his foreign policy and 19% approving of his tariff policy.
Administration Response and Context
White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales replied by email to Newsweek, highlighting administration accomplishments including tax changes, prescription drug cost reductions, border enforcement, lower violent crime, and gains in retirement accounts. A White House official also pointed to FBI data showing a more than 9% drop in violent crime in 2025, 15 consecutive months of zero migrant releases at the border, and a 3.1% year-over-year decline in prescription drug prices in July — the administration cited The Washington Post for that figure.
These findings come alongside other recent surveys showing similar patterns. An Echelon Insights poll released the same week put Trump's overall approval at 40% (59% disapprove) but showed weak support among younger voters: 28% approval for ages 18–34 and 40% approval for ages 35–49. A Reuters/Ipsos poll from Aug. 14–17 reported a 33% overall approval and 64% disapproval, with a sample of 1,166 adults (MOE ±3%).
As Trump heads into the 2026 midterms, the persistent erosion of support among younger cohorts remains a notable challenge for his campaign, even as broader national approval figures fluctuate.
Contact: Gray R. Thomas, Newsweek editors
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