Trump Approval Rating Slips Among MAGA Supporters

The president remains in double-digit negative territory nationally as the 2026 midterm elections approach.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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President Donald Trump's support among his core MAGA backers remains overwhelming, but new polling suggests a softening at the edges as the 2026 midterm picture comes into focus. While Trump continues to post sky-high approval among MAGA supporters, recent Economist/YouGov polls show a slight narrowing in his net approval margin over the course of a single week.

Why it matters

Trump's political strength has always rested on near-total loyalty from his MAGA base, a bloc that drives primary turnout and influences Republican midterm strategy. Even modest movement inside that group matters when control of Congress is likely to hinge on enthusiasm and turnout rather than persuasion.

The details

Two consecutive Economist/YouGov polls conducted in February show Trump continuing to post sky-high approval among MAGA supporters, while also highlighting a slight narrowing in his net approval margin over the course of a single week. Nationally, Trump's approval remained underwater in February, with The Economist's tracker putting his net approval at -17, a level that could affect the political environment heading into the midterms.

  • The Economist/YouGov poll conducted February 6 to 9 among 1,730 U.S. adult citizens.
  • The Economist/YouGov poll conducted February 13 to 16 among 1,682 U.S. adult citizens.

The players

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States.

Davis Ingle

A White House spokesperson.

David Montgomery

A senior data journalist at YouGov.

Taylor Orth

The director of survey data journalism at YouGov.

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What they’re saying

“The ultimate poll was November 5, 2024, when nearly 80 million Americans overwhelmingly elected President Trump to deliver on his popular and commonsense agenda. The President has already made historic progress not only in America but around the world. It is not surprising that President Trump remains the most dominant figure in American politics.”

— Davis Ingle, White House spokesperson (Newsweek)

“The highest Poll Numbers I have ever received. Obviously, people like a strong and powerful Country, with the best economy, EVER!”

— Donald Trump (Truth Social)

“A majority of Americans disapprove of how Donald Trump is handling his overall job as president, and even more disapprove of how Trump is handling the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. These negative views of Trump's handling of his overall job and the Epstein investigation have changed little in recent weeks.”

— David Montgomery and Taylor Orth, Senior data journalist and director of survey data journalism at YouGov (YouGov report)

What’s next

As the midterm cycle accelerates, future polling will likely show whether these marginal shifts among MAGA supporters stabilize or continue, particularly as legal, economic and investigative issues compete for voter attention.

The takeaway

This polling data highlights the persistent divide in American politics, with Trump maintaining strong support among his core MAGA base while facing broader resistance nationally. The midterm elections will be a key test of whether this dynamic holds or if there are any significant shifts in the political landscape.