- A February survey by AtlasIntel shows Trump’s net approval rating among Gen Z at 5.4%, with 52.7% approving and 47.3% disapproving. The new numbers mark a drastic change from January’s -17.4% net approval.
- Gen Z focuses primarily on economic issues like inflation and job prospects, which drives their fluctuating opinions of Trump.
- Polls reveal challenges in accurately gauging Trump’s approval due to volatility and the tendency of some Trump supporters to not openly declare their preference.
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President Donald Trump’s approval rating among Gen Z has significantly fluctuated, according to recent polls. A February survey by AtlasIntel shows a net approval rating of 5.4% for Trump among Gen Z, with 52.7% approving and 47.3% disapproving.
This marks a sharp shift from January. 58.7% of Gen Z disapproved of Trump then and only 41.3% approved, resulting in a net approval of -17.4%
Michael Strawbridge, an assistant professor of political science at Washington University in St. Louis, explains this generation’s focus on distinct issues. They include inflation and the economy, which have dominated recent news cycles.
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“These young voters are evaluating Trump through a different lens compared to other groups,” Strawbridge said. “Inflation and job prospects are paramount to them.”
Another poll conducted a week before the AtlasIntel survey showed a significant drop in Gen Z’s approval of Trump. The fluctuating numbers highlight the volatile nature of public opinion during uncertain economic times.
“Polls can be hard to compare within the same year due to the current volatility,” Strawbridge said.
Getting a reliable read on Trump’s approval ratings from polls has proven challenging. “Many Trump supporters don’t openly declare their preference, and some self-identified moderates actually vote for Trump,” Strawbridge said, adding he expects the numbers to stabilize by mid-year.
ARE THEY LOVING HIM OR HATING HIM? WELL, WHEN IT COMES TO GEN Z… IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHAT DAY IT IS.
A FEBRUARY ATLAS POLL SHOWS PRESIDENT TRUMP’S OVERALL APPROVAL RATING PRETTY EVENLY SPLIT.
BUT WHEN YOU BREAK THE NUMBERS DOWN, GEN Z HAS THE WIDEST GAP.
THIS GENERATION GIVES THE PRESIDENT A NET APPROVAL RATING OF PLUS 5.4 PERCENT.. WITH 52.7 PERCENT IN FAVOR OF THE PRESIDENT, AND 47.3 DISAPPROVING.
COMPARE THIS TO JANUARY AND YOU’LL SEE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.
JANUARY’S SURVEY SHOWED 58.7 PERCENT OF GEN Z’ERS DISAPPROVED OF TRUMP WHILE 41.3 APPROVED OF HIM.
THAT CHANGES THE NET APPROVAL TO MINUS 17.4.
So WHY THE SUDDEN SHIFT?
MICHAEL STRAWBRIDGE IS AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS. HE POINTS TO THIS PARTICULAR GENERATION AS BEING KEYED IN ON ISSUES THAT ARE **DIFFERENT THAN THOSE OF OTHER DEMOGRAPHICS.
They’re going to have a different rubric. They’re evaluating Trump along than other groups are. And we’re saying differences in attitudes. It’s not small, you know, margins here. They’re pretty large. We’re talking 10-15 percentage point differences in terms of the most important issues.
GEN Z SAYS THEY CARE MOST ABOUT INFLATION AND THE ECONOMY COMPARED TO OTHER GENERATIONS.
COMPARE THIS TO WHAT IS MAKING NEWS OVER THE PAST MONTH… BOTH INFLATION AND THE ECONOMY.
So for these young voters in particular, what’s something that’s going to matter them more than anything else? Oh, I know it’s can I get a job, and can I pay for my food the next week here? And if you’re using that as your key source for evaluating someone there that’s going to then benefit the incoming President as you then blame everything on the outgoing President there. So it makes sense in that. It’s a very simple way to evaluate your status and how you feel about the current administration, and you know what to look forward to.
BUT BEFORE YOU PUT TOO MUCH STOCK IN ONE POLL… HERE’S ANOTHER.
THIS DATA WAS TAKEN EXACTLY ONE WEEK BEFORE THE FEBRUARY ATLAS POLL.
IT SHOWS A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN APPROVAL AMONG GEN Z. BUT WHAT YOU’LL ALSO NOTICE IS NO MATTER WHAT DAY IT IS… THE NUMBERS SEEM TO CONTINUOUSLY BE GOING UP AND DOWN.
“the fact that we’re in such a just uncertain time in terms of the economy and the issues that are going to, you know, be the main drivers of the use opinion right now, said Strawbridge. “It’s going to be hard to ever really know accurately. Say, and compare 2 polls even within the same calendar year, just because it’s so volatile right now.”
GETTING A RELIABLE ANSWER WHEN IT COMES TO POLLS –PARTICULARLY ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP – HAS PROVEN TO BE A CHALLENGE IN RECENT YEARS.
“There are a lot of people who vote for trump who don’t actually say they’re voting for trump, said Strawbridge. “There are people who indicate that they’re moderates yet they’re actually voting for trump.”
STRAWBRIDGE SAYS POLLS CAN BE GOOD INFORMATION WHEN DONE OVER LONG PERIODS OF TIME.
HE EXPECTS THE NUMBERS TO LEVEL OFF COME JUNE OR JULY.
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