U.S. President Donald Trump reacts as he meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (not pictured) at Trump Turnberry golf club on July 28, 2025 in Turnberry, Scotland, Britain. Christopher Furlong Pool via Reuters
President Donald Trump is closing out 2025 with lower approval ratings from a key demographic: the middle class.
Trump's economy has been plagued by erratic tariffs and an affordability crisis he claimed was a "hoax."
The recent Economist/YouGov poll shows those with incomes between $50,000-$100,000 had a shift in sentiment among the key demographic. It's enough for Republicans to be concerned about as the 2026 midterm elections near.
Trump's net approval has fallen, but among the middle class, it dropped from -10 in October (43 percent approve/53 percent disapprove) to -12 in November (43 percent /55 percent). As of December, Trump's approval is down by 17 points (40 percent/57 percent).
There is a ± 3.6 percent margin of error.
The numbers confirm what a new PBS News/NPR/Marist poll showed from December.
Trump announced on Wednesday that the numbers are down because they're ultimately fake.
President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post:
“The polls are rigged even more than the writers. The real number is 64 percent, and why not, our Country is ‘hotter’ than ever before. Isn't it nice to have a STRONG BORDER, No Inflation, a powerful Military, and great Economy??? Happy New Year!” he wrote.
"The most important reasons he won in 2024 were his promises to bring inflation down and juice the economy. That's the reason he won so many voters who traditionally had supported Democrats, including Hispanics…But he hasn't been able to deliver. Inflation has moderated, but it hasn't gone backward," said GOP pollster Whit Ayres while speaking to the Los Angeles Times.