After several weeks of decline, President Donald Trump’s approval rating among millennials experienced a significant turnaround this week, as indicated by a new poll released on Tuesday by The Economist and YouGov.
According to Newsweek, throughout his political career, Trump has consistently emphasized positive approval ratings and poll results during press conferences and campaign events. Nevertheless, declining poll numbers could diminish his influence in an already highly polarized environment and potentially harm Republican prospects in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.
Upon his return to the White House in January, Trump’s approval ratings were robust. However, they experienced a slight decline in some polls due to increasing economic and political concerns, including backlash against his tariff policies.
Both Trump and former Vice President Kamala Harris have made it a priority to engage millennials through podcasts and digital media as a key strategy for the 2024 campaign, aiming to connect with a generation that is becoming increasingly skeptical of traditional media and conventional political messaging.
Millennials—typically defined as individuals born between 1981 and 1996—have overtaken baby boomers to become the largest age demographic, according to the Pew Research Center, making them a crucial demographic.
The new poll released on Tuesday indicates that President Trump holds a 42 percent approval rating among millennials. The survey was conducted from June 27 to June 30, polling 1,648 U.S. adult citizens, with a margin of error of 3.3 percent.
In contrast, the poll from the previous week recorded his approval among millennials at 36 percent. That survey was conducted from June 20 to June 23, sampling 1,590 U.S. adults, with a margin of error of 3.5 percent.
When Trump commenced his second term, his approval rating within this voting bloc was at 44 percent, with his highest ratings reaching 48 percent in polls conducted in both February and June, as noted by Newsweek.
“The recent polls indicate a 6-point increase in Trump’s approval rating among millennials, marking a significant change for this demographic, which has now become the largest voting bloc, surpassing baby boomers,” stated Craig Agranoff, a political analyst, in an interview with Newsweek.
“I would not classify this as a clear victory for Trump, as millennials are a diverse and unpredictable group, frequently skeptical of his overall agenda,” Agranoff continued. “This increase likely reflects effective messaging or a sense of economic optimism that resonates with younger voters, but it is premature to label it as a sustained trend.”
He further remarked: “Regarding the prioritization of millennials, Trump’s political approach has traditionally focused on energizing his core supporters, who are often older and more conservative, rather than customizing policies for younger demographics. His emphasis appears to be more on controlling the broader narrative than on specifically addressing the public opinion of this age group.”
Polling trends suggest that Trump’s approval ratings among millennials may continue to vary in response to both foreign and domestic policy changes, as well as the upcoming midterm elections.
Both major political parties are anticipated to enhance their direct outreach to voters through podcasts and alternative media channels to bolster support within this vital demographic.
Last month, a poll conducted by Marquette University revealed that 66 percent of respondents approve of the president’s management of illegal immigration.
This poll was conducted nearly two months following the deportation of adjudicated MS13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was returned to El Salvador despite Democrats using him as a symbol to alter the narrative.
Additionally, a Quantus poll conducted in May indicated that the president was in a deadlock regarding his support, with 48 percent of voters approving of his performance and 48 percent disapproving.
This poll dispelled the notion that the president had “the worst approval ratings” in modern history after 100 days, a claim that Democrats were promoting based on an outlier poll from CNN.
Immigration enforcement has been a fundamental aspect of the president’s agenda, and the administration has furthered this with the declaration of voluntary self-deportations.
The Department of Homeland Security will cover the costs of commercial flights and provide a $1,000 stipend to undocumented immigrants who wish to self-deport from the United States, a strategy that DHS asserts would result in significant savings.
