New polling shows President Donald Trump's approval rating slipping among conservative voters, signaling potential trouble within his political base.

Why It Matters

A drop in Donald Trump's approval among conservatives shows potential cracks in his base, potentially weakening his ability to unify the Republican base and energize turnout ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

What To Know

According to the latest TIPP Insights poll, conducted between April 30 and May 2 among 1,400 adults, Trump's approval rating among conservative voters has dropped from 77 percent in early April to 72 percent now, suggesting that even Trump's strongest demographic is losing support for him. The latest poll had a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points.

The same trend was apparent in the latest ActiVote poll, conducted between April 1-30 among 576 registered voters, which showed that Trump's approval among moderate-right and right-wing voters has slipped to 88 percent from 91 percent last month.

Both pollsters also showed that Trump's approval rating has taken a dip among Republicans, with TIPP showing a drop from 81 to 76 percent, and ActiVote showing a drop from 83 percent to 78 percent.

In contrast, TIPP's poll shows his approval rating among moderates has remained the same at 32 percent, while his approval among liberals has decreased by 1 point to 20 points. However, disapproval has decreased from 77 percent to 75 to percent.

Meanwhile, in ActiVote's poll, his disapproval from the left and moderate left remains at 93 percent. However, centrists showed the most slippage, from a +2 percent net approval rating last month, to a -12 percent net approval rating this month. The latest poll had a margin of error of +/- 4.1 percentage points.

The results suggest that while Trump's approval ratings remain largely unchanged among liberals, signs of erosion are emerging within his Republican base — and his support among centrists is beginning to collapse. This shift is especially concerning for Republicans as they look ahead to the 2026 midterms, when they'll be fighting to maintain control of both the House and Senate in order to advance Trump's agenda.

The decline among centrists is also particularly significant, as this group often serves as a decisive swing bloc in competitive races.

It comes as Trump's approval ratings have been in decline since the announcement of his "Liberation Day" tariffs. The sweeping move roiled the markets, triggering an immediate sell-off that was followed by a rebound days later.

Republican strategists downplayed the dip in conservative support for Donald Trump, calling it a routine fluctuation within polling margins and not a serious threat to his base, which they said remains strong. Aaron Evans, president of Winning Republicans Strategies, told Newsweek that concerns over tariffs and messaging may have caused temporary slippage but reaffirmed Trump's "America First" agenda as a winning strategy.

He added that Trump's base is still "rock-solid." But to maintain and grow that support, Evans advised the administration to "refocus on pocketbook issues like tax cuts and energy independence" and to "avoid distractions like third-term chatter or unprofessional White House social memes."

Meanwhile, Republican strategist Matt Klink described polling as a snapshot, adding: "Ultimately, the 3 percent slide is not concerning." He said that moderate Republicans are less likely to be "true Trump believers," making some slippage natural. However, "The American public is hungry for progress," he said and warned that Trump could face political consequences if he fails to deliver long-term results.

Republican strategist John Feehery agreed the dip was expected after Trump's tariffs announcement, adding that the president is unlikely to be "overly concerned about polls" but will have to change course if his tariffs strategy fails.

The president's management of the situation appears to have left voters feeling uneasy, with polls reflecting a dramatic erosion of public confidence in the president's handling of his job.

For example, in ActiVote's latest poll, Trump's approval rating stood at 45 percent, while 51 percent disapproved, giving the president a net approval of -6 points. ActiVote's March poll showed Trump with a net approval rating of -1 point, with 48 percent approving and 49 percent disapproving.

And in the latest YouGov/Yahoo poll, conducted April 25-28 among 1,597 respondents, his approval dropped from 44 percent in March to 42 percent, while disapproval rose from 50 percent to 53 percent, widening his net negative from –6 to –11. The poll had a margin of error of ±2.9 percentage points.

Emerson College also released a poll last week, which showed that Trump's approval rating had dropped marginally, from 47 percent to 45 percent, since March, while his disapproval rating remained the same at 45 percent. The most recent poll was conducted April 25-28 among 1,000 registered voters and had a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points.

But Newsweek's tracker shows that Trump's approval rating has slightly increased in recent days, currently standing at 45 percent, while 49 percent disapprove. Last week, Trump's approval rating stood at 44 percent, while his disapproval was firmly in the 50s.

Other polls have also reflected this trend, with TIPP's poll putting Trump's net approval rating at -5 points, with 42 percent approving and 47 percent disapproving. That is up from a net -7 point approval rating in early April, when 43 percent approved and 50 percent disapproved.

In the latest poll conducted by Morning Consult between May 2-4 among 2,263 registered voters, Trump's approval rating remained at 46 percent, but his disapproval rating dropped from 54 percent to 52 percent. The poll had a margin of error of +/- 2 percentage points.

How Donald Trump's Approval Rating Compares to First Term

The RealClearPolitics tracker showed that on May 6, 2017, Trump's approval rating was 44 percent, while his disapproval rating was 51 percent, giving him a net approval rating of -7 points, making Trump marginally more unpopular now than at the same point in his first stint in the Oval Office.

How Donald Trump's Approval Rating Compares to Joe Biden's

Trump's 45 percent approval rating is lower than that of former President Joe Biden at the same point in his presidency. On May 6, 2021, Biden stood at 54 percent, with a disapproval rating of 42 percent, according to RealClearPolitics.

While Trump began his second term with his highest approval ratings to date, according to Gallup's first poll of Trump's second term, conducted between January 21 and 27, he was still less popular than any president since 1953 at the start of a term and the only one to begin with a sub-50 percent approval rating. Gallup said Biden started his first term with a 57 percent approval rating.

And according to data compiled from Gallup by The American Presidency Project, Trump ranks far below other recently elected presidents after 100 days, dating back to Eisenhower, who had an approval rating of 73 percent.

Other recently elected presidents saw higher approval ratings at the 100-day mark, including: John F. Kennedy 83 percent; Richard Nixon 62 percent; Jimmy Carter 63 percent; Ronald Reagan 68 percent; George H.W. Bush 56 percent; Bill Clinton 55 percent; George W. Bush 62 percent; and Barack Obama 65 percent.

What People Are Saying

Aaron Evans of Winning Republicans Strategies told Newsweek: "The slight dip in President Trump's approval among conservatives and Republicans is a routine fluctuation, well within polling margins of error and likely tied to short-term concerns over tariffs and mixed signals on economic priorities—not a meaningful shift in his rock-solid GOP base, which still backs him at 72–78 percent.

"To hold and grow support, the admin should sharpen its messaging on tariffs as a long-term jobs strategy, refocus on pocketbook issues like tax cuts and energy independence—the winning formula in November—and avoid distractions like third-term chatter or unprofessional White House social memes. Voters are all-in on the America First agenda. The more the Trump Administration delivers clear, results-driven policy wins that put Americans first, keep the country safe and grow the economy, the stronger the Republican Party's position will be heading into 2026."

Republican strategist John Feehery told Newsweek: "Trump isn't running again, so I don't think he is overly concerned about polls. Conservatives don't like tariffs and a percentage of those conservatives aren't willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

"Either Trump's tariff strategy works or it doesn't. If it works, he will be a hero. If it doesn't, he will have to change course or risk a revolt from his party. At this stage of the game, though, I think he was expecting this drop."

Republican strategist Matt Klink told Newsweek: "First and most importantly, polls are snapshots in time, and trends over time should concern any candidate or elected official.

"While it's entirely likely that moderate Republican views of Donald Trump have experienced some slippage, that's within the margin of error. That said, moderate voters are less likely to be 'true Trump believers' and some slippage is expected. Ultimately, the 3 percent slide is not concerning.

"TIPP Insight's results run counter to other results I've seen where the most conservative voters—Trump's base—support him at the mid-90s, so no diminution of support."

"We are seeing the Trump administration now focusing on policies that seek to lay the foundation for long-term growth in the American economy. So, even with some slippage, due in part to almost 100 percent negative publicity of Trump in the press and a tumultuous stock market, the administration is looking two or three months down the road at where they will be in terms of support," Klink continued.

"Most importantly, while Trump has been in the Oval Office for slightly more than 100 days, he hasn't fully implemented his economic plan. The centerpiece of that plan is a reconciliation package 100 percent reliant on Republicans in Congress to pass. Without that plan, the Trump administration's agenda will wither and die. With it, the Trump tax cuts will be extended, and the Biden regulatory-heavy economy will be tamed and refocused toward growth.

"Bottom line—no need for Trump to worry or change course. But the results do highlight that the American public is hungry for progress, and that a failure to deliver in the long term will hurt a politician, even Donald Trump."

What Happens Next

Trump's approval rating could fluctuate in the coming weeks, depending on the outcome of key events, including critical negotiations in the Russia-Ukraine war, the evolving tariff situation and concerns about a recession.

Update 5/7/25, 12:17 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Aaron Evans, John Feehery and Matt Klink.