President Donald Trump’s approval rating among millennials has taken a notable upward swing, signaling potential momentum for his campaign after a period of steady decline. A fresh poll released Tuesday by The Economist and YouGov points to a 6-point jump in support among younger voters—a demographic often seen as a challenge for the former president.
As Newsweek reports, Trump has long highlighted strong polling numbers as a key part of his public messaging. But dipping ratings in recent weeks have raised questions about his influence heading into the critical 2026 midterms, particularly in a deeply divided political climate.
After his return to the White House in January, Trump enjoyed solid approval figures. However, ongoing economic concerns and criticism of his trade policies have contributed to slight erosion in his overall standing.
In response, both Trump and former Vice President Kamala Harris have ramped up efforts to connect with millennials via podcasts and social media platforms—tactics aimed at reaching a generation increasingly disengaged from traditional media and skeptical of party-line politics.
Millennials—those born between 1981 and 1996—now make up the largest generational voting group, according to Pew Research Center. As such, they’re a central focus for both parties heading into 2024 and beyond.
The new Economist/YouGov poll, conducted from June 27 to June 30, found that 42% of millennials approve of Trump’s job performance, compared to just 36% the week prior. That earlier survey, run from June 20 to June 23, included 1,590 respondents and had a margin of error of 3.5%. The more recent poll surveyed 1,648 adults with a 3.3% margin of error.
Trump started his second term with a 44% approval rating among millennials, with high points of 48% recorded in both February and June, according to Newsweek.
Craig Agranoff, a political analyst, told Newsweek the rise is “not necessarily a decisive win” but reflects an important shift. “Millennials are a complex and evolving group, often wary of Trump’s broader policies,” he said. “This recent bump could stem from targeted outreach or improving economic sentiment, but it’s too early to call it a lasting trend.”
He added that Trump’s usual strategy has centered on energizing older, more conservative voters rather than adapting his message for younger audiences. “Trump’s focus tends to be on controlling the overall narrative rather than tailoring policies to millennials specifically,” Agranoff noted.
Pollsters anticipate continued fluctuation in Trump’s millennial support, depending on the outcome of both domestic and international developments, as well as campaign strategies leading into the midterms.
Both Democrats and Republicans are expected to lean more heavily into digital outreach—especially podcasts and independent media—to engage this critical segment of voters.
Immigration remains another area of sharp focus for the Trump administration. A recent Marquette University poll showed that 66% of respondents approved of how the president is handling illegal immigration. This result came shortly after the deportation of convicted MS-13 member Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose case had been used by some Democrats to challenge Trump’s enforcement tactics.
Meanwhile, a Quantus poll conducted in May showed Trump’s support split evenly, with 48% of voters approving of his job performance and 48% disapproving—challenging claims that his first 100 days of the new term marked historically low approval levels.
Trump’s administration has doubled down on immigration enforcement through new voluntary self-deportation measures. Under the plan, the Department of Homeland Security will provide $1,000 stipends and pay for commercial flights for undocumented immigrants choosing to leave the country—a move officials say could lead to major savings in enforcement costs.
