Polls Indicate Declining Support for Trump Among White Working-Class Voters

Recent polling data shows a decline in support for former President Donald Trump among white working-class voters. In the 2024 election, 66% of this demographic voted for Trump, who campaigned on bringing manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. and opposing globalization. However, as of December 2025, manufacturing employment had decreased by 65,000 jobs since his inauguration for a second term in January 2025. A CBS News poll from May 2026 indicates that disapproval of Trump's job performance among white voters without a college degree has risen to 54%, compared to 32% in February 2025. Additionally, these voters disapprove of Trump's handling of the economy by 22 percentage points. The national average price for gasoline has exceeded $4.50 per gallon, which some attribute to Trump's foreign policy decisions, including military actions in Iran. Voters in battleground states, such as Ohio, are expressing dissatisfaction with rising prices and project delays. Union leaders in Ohio report that members are reconsidering their support for Trump due to these economic concerns. Some voters, like Peggy Liff, have voiced their frustration, recalling a time of greater financial security during Trump's first term. CNN data analyst Harry Enten noted that working-class voters who previously supported Trump are now reconsidering their support.