Trump’s Approval with Millennials Collapses as Economic Frustration Grows

President Donald Trump’s once-boasted popularity is sinking fast among America’s largest generation. A new YouGov/Economist poll shows millennials are abandoning him in droves, with approval ratings hitting their lowest point of the year.

Back in June, 40 percent of millennials approved of Trump’s performance while 53 percent disapproved—a net rating of -13. By July, it slipped to -16. Now, in August, it’s cratered to -23, with just 33 percent approving and 56 percent disapproving.

“Millennials have yet to see the sweeping national renewal Trump promised,” said Thomas Gift, director of the Centre on US Politics at University College London. “Instead, they’re facing higher costs, weaker job prospects, and an administration that appears out of touch.”

Economy at the Breaking Point

The backlash is driven primarily by sour views of Trump’s economic stewardship. Inflation, which he vowed to “end on day one” of his second term, continues to climb. Consumer prices rose 2.7 percent in June, hitting young Americans especially hard as they struggle with rent, groceries, and gas.

Support for Trump’s handling of inflation has collapsed from 33 percent in June to just 27 percent in August. “He promised to make America affordable again. Instead, everything from rent to ramen costs more,” said 29-year-old voter Maria Castillo from Denver.

Job growth has also slowed to a crawl. Only 73,000 jobs were added in July, half the number of the previous month. Trump’s decision to fire Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer after the report came out was viewed by many millennials as desperate and dishonest. A mere 16 percent thought the firing was justified.

Tariffs and Higher Prices

Adding to the pain, Trump’s aggressive tariff program has backfired. His Commerce Secretary promised $50 billion a month in new revenue. But Wall Street warns that most of the costs are being dumped on American consumers.

“Tariffs might be good politics at a rally, but at the checkout line, they’re crushing families,” said David Ramirez, a Chicago schoolteacher.

Federal Reserve data underscores the divide: millennials today own less than two-thirds of the housing wealth baby boomers had at the same age, making higher consumer costs especially punishing.

Immigration: A Rare Bright Spot

Ironically, Trump’s hardline immigration policies are the one area where his numbers have ticked upward. Millennial approval on immigration has climbed from 33 to 41 percent since June. Deportation raids, expanded ICE camps, and mass removals of undocumented migrants have drawn outrage from human rights groups but found support among some younger voters worried about job competition.

Still, the national trend is moving in the opposite direction. Gallup reports 79 percent of Americans now see immigration as a “good thing”—an all-time high, including among Republicans. That shift could leave Trump isolated, even on the issue he built his political brand on.

What Comes Next

Trump’s nominee to replace McEntarfer at the BLS, conservative economist E.J. Antoni, has already floated suspending the monthly release of jobs data altogether. If that happens, millennials—the generation most skeptical of Trump—may see it as yet another attempt to cover up economic failures rather than fix them.

With the 2026 midterms approaching, Democrats are watching the millennial revolt closely. This generation now makes up the largest voting bloc in the country, and their souring opinion of Trump could reshape the political map.

“Millennials carried Democrats in 2018 and 2020,” said political analyst Karen Finney. “If Trump keeps alienating them, 2026 could be a repeat of those blue waves—only bigger.”