President Donald Trump’s support among Generation Z voters has slipped sharply in recent months, even as his overall approval rating has remained steady, according to a new YouGov/Economist poll.
The survey, conducted between October 17 and 20, found that just 25 percent of Gen Z respondents approve of Trump’s performance, while 67 percent disapprove — a net approval of –42 points. That marks a notable decline from September (30–64, –34) and August (30–67, –37).
The trend suggests that younger voters—who briefly warmed to Trump during the 2024 election—are once again drifting away. According to AP VoteCast, voters aged 18 to 29 backed Kamala Harris over Trump by just 51 percent to 47 percent in 2024, a far smaller margin than Joe Biden’s 61–36 victory among the same age group in 2020. But the latest polling shows that Trump’s tenuous foothold among Gen Z may be slipping for good.
“Things aren’t working” for young voters
Professor of political communication at George Washington University Peter Loge said the reversal reflects frustration with the direction of the country and the pressures facing young Americans.
“Support for President Trump is falling across the board. A lot of young voters supported Trump because they were concerned about their futures,” Loge told Newsweek. “Young people were worried about getting jobs, being able to afford to go to college or move out of their parents’ house, gun violence, and the pending climate crisis. Many didn’t see things getting better under Biden, so supported Trump. Since Trump’s election, youth unemployment jumped to more than 10%, double the national rate. Housing is still out of reach for many, the administration is cutting funding to higher education, politics is getting more volitile, and the president is reversing policies dealing with the climate crisis. Of course young voters are turning away from the president.
Loge added that the mood among young voters is not necessarily ideological but pragmatic: “Most young people, like most people of any age, want things to work. Things aren’t working, so voters of all ages are blaming the people in charge. Trump and Republicans are in charge, so they are getting blamed.”
Disapproval of Trump’s foreign policy and shutdown handling
The YouGov/Economist poll also points to growing unease among younger voters over Trump’s handling of foreign policy, particularly in the wake of his 20-point peace plan between Israel and Hamas. While 53 percent of Americans overall approve of the plan, young voters are far less supportive. Among Gen Z, Trump’s foreign policy approval dropped from 30–56 in September to 29–61 in October.
The poll shows that 59 percent of Gen Z voters say they care deeply about the Israel-Palestine conflict—more than any other generation. Nearly half (46 percent) sympathize more with Palestinians, and 44 percent say the U.S. should stop all military aid to Israel. Forty-nine percent believe Trump has been too supportive of Israel.
Meanwhile, economic attitudes among young voters have brightened slightly, though dissatisfaction remains high. Approval of Trump’s handling of the economy rose from 27–63 in September to 29–61 in October, and perceptions of overall economic trends also improved marginally, with 13 percent saying the economy is getting better, up from 11 percent the previous month. Views on personal finances also improved modestly.
However, the ongoing federal government shutdown—now the longest in U.S. history—could reverse those gains. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned on October 13 that the shutdown was “starting to affect the real economy” and could cost the U.S. $15 billion per week. Among Gen Z, 64 percent disapprove of Trump’s handling of the shutdown, the highest of any age group, and 43 percent say they blame the Republican Party for the crisis, compared with 19 percent who blame Democrats.
Overall approval remains steady among other voters
But despite the shutdown and growing discontent among younger voters, Trump’s overall approval ratings have held firm.
According to analysis by FiveThirtyEight, previous shutdowns typically triggered a noticeable drop in public support. During the 1995–1996 shutdown, President Bill Clinton’s Gallup rating dropped from around 51 percent to the low 40s before rebounding once the standoff ended. Likewise, 20 days into the 2018–19 shutdown during Trump’s first term, his net approval dropped by 3 points, according to CNN.
However, the latest polls suggest Trump is defying that trend.
The YouGov/Economist poll put Trump’s net approval at -17 points, unchanged from a month ago. Trump’s approval rating was only up 1 point in the latest Echelon Insights poll, to -7 points.
Other polls show his ratings up. The latest Morning Consult poll, conducted between October 17-19, also showed Trump’s approval rating at its highest point since the end of August, at -5 points. According to the survey, 46 percent approve and 51 percent disapprove
Meanwhile, Newsweek’s tracker has shown Trump’s ratings improving in recent days, standing at -6 points yesterday, up from -11 points on October 1. However, it now shows Trump’s approval rating has dropped again to -10 points, with 43 percent approving and 53 percent disapproving.
According to Thomas Gift, a political science professor at University College London, Trump’s resilience reflects the deep-rooted nature of his support.
“Nothing is going to wipe out Trump’s support,” Gift told Newsweek. “An iron law of American politics is that his core base will never abandon him,” Gift said. “His approval ratings are remarkably durable because they’re driven less by short-term events and more by deep partisan and cultural loyalties. For many supporters, Trump isn’t just a political figure; he’s a symbol of defiance against the establishment. And while a government shutdown is never politically advantageous, some of his followers may even see it as a badge of honor—a direct rebuke to Beltway insiders who treat Washington grinding to a halt as a national crisis.”
