By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Recent polling indicates a decline in Donald Trump’s support among middle-income earners, reversing gains made earlier in the election cycle. The latest YouGov/Economist poll reveals a net approval rating of -14 points for Trump among those earning $50,000-$100,000 annually, driven by economic anxieties and concerns over rising costs. Critics argue Trump’s economic policies, including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, could negatively impact working families, leading to a backlash among middle-class voters. This shift in sentiment coincides with increasing pessimism about the economy and concerns regarding the potential for a recession.
Read the original article here
Donald Trump’s approval rating collapses with America’s middle class – it’s a headline that pops up with alarming frequency, isn’t it? You see it everywhere, plastered across your feeds, and you can’t help but wonder, “Again? Still?” The frequency of these articles can start to feel a bit like white noise, a constant drumbeat of supposed decline. You might even find yourself, like many others, getting a bit jaded by the whole thing.
It’s easy to feel cynical about these reports. After all, the numbers often don’t seem to shift that drastically, yet the narrative remains consistent: a steady erosion of support. It’s almost as if there’s a predetermined script, a template that’s applied regardless of the actual polling data. The frustration is understandable. It can be difficult to reconcile the repeated headlines with the reality of political power and the entrenched positions of certain figures. The initial shock can be replaced by a sense of, “So what?”
The very notion of an “approval rating” loses some of its impact when faced with the seemingly impervious nature of political action. Even if the numbers are undeniably low, the real world often doesn’t seem to reflect it. The wheels of government keep turning, legislation is passed, and decisions are made, regardless of public opinion. It’s enough to make you question the relevance of it all. It becomes a question of what even matters?
The focus is very much on the middle class – or what’s left of it. There’s a pervasive sentiment that the middle class, in particular, has been left behind, economically and socially. The economic struggles of the middle class are frequently cited as a major contributing factor to the decline in approval. The feeling is that these families are struggling with rising costs, stagnant wages, and a lack of social safety nets, and that they feel abandoned.
The economic policies of the administration are often cited as the root cause. The tax bills that have been described as favoring the wealthy, the perceived loss of environmental controls, and the overall handling of the economy. Many feel that these policies haven’t benefited the middle class and have, in fact, made their lives more difficult. The idea that those policies will favor those with the most money is a consistent refrain.
The middle class is not monolithic, of course, and the reasons for disapproval are varied. There’s the sense that the administration doesn’t represent their interests, that their values are not being upheld, and that the rhetoric and actions of certain individuals are actively harmful. Many are disheartened with the state of affairs. The loss of social safety nets is a common concern, leading to anxieties about the future.
It’s hard to ignore the impact of the political climate. The heightened level of division, the spread of misinformation, and the overall toxicity of political discourse are all seen as contributing factors to the decline in approval. The idea is that a lot of people feel genuinely afraid, they are scared about the possibility of losing their rights.
This brings up another very pointed question of: If this has been happening for years, and the approval rating continues to stay put, what is the point of the constant news? It’s a good question. The answer isn’t simple, but it likely has something to do with the overall narrative and the ongoing struggle for power.
Ultimately, the story of Trump’s declining approval rating among the middle class is complex, messy, and deeply intertwined with the social and economic realities of today. The headline might not capture the entirety of the truth, but it reflects a growing unease.