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President Donald Trump’s approval rating remains underwater as he approaches the end of his first year back in the White House, with signs of erosion among his core supporters and growing concern about the economy, according to a new NBC News Decision Desk Poll.
The survey found that 42% of American adults approve of Trump’s job performance, while 58% disapprove. That marks a modest decline from April, when Trump’s approval stood at 45%, but the poll suggests deeper shifts beneath the surface — particularly in the intensity of public sentiment toward the president.
While Trump continues to command strong loyalty from many Republicans, fewer Americans now say they strongly approve of his performance, and more say they strongly disapprove.
The poll surveyed 20,252 adults nationwide online from Nov. 20 through Dec. 8 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points.
Intensity shifts among supporters and critics
The share of respondents who said they strongly approve of Trump fell to 21%, down from 26% in April. At the same time, the share who strongly disapprove rose to 44%, up from 42% earlier this year.
The decline in strong approval was most pronounced among Republicans — particularly those aligned with Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement.
Among Republicans who identify more closely with the GOP than with MAGA, 35% now say they strongly approve of Trump, down from 38% in April. Strong approval remains higher among MAGA Republicans, at 70%, but that figure represents an eight-point drop since April.
The poll also found fewer Republicans now identifying with the MAGA movement. While a majority of Republicans aligned with MAGA earlier this year, respondents are now evenly split between identifying as MAGA supporters and traditional Republicans.
Those shifts come as some prominent Trump allies have publicly broken with the president. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, once a vocal MAGA supporter, has distanced herself from Trump and announced plans to leave Congress early next year.
Economy dominates public concerns
Economic anxiety continues to weigh heavily on Americans, including Trump supporters, according to the poll. Inflation and the cost of everyday necessities remain top concerns, with many respondents reporting changes to their spending habits.
Overall, 64% of Americans said the country is on the wrong track, up from 60% earlier this year. That pessimism has increased among groups that could prove pivotal in the 2026 midterm elections, including Trump voters, older Americans, people without college degrees, and Black and Hispanic respondents.
Compared with August, Republicans and MAGA-aligned voters were more likely to say their personal finances have worsened over the past year and more likely to say the country is headed in the wrong direction.
Income divides shape economic outlook
Views on personal finances varied sharply by income level. Overall, 41% of respondents said their financial situation is about the same as a year ago, while 35% said it is worse and 24% said it is better.
Among Americans earning less than $50,000 a year, 45% said their finances have worsened. By contrast, only about one-quarter of those earning more than $100,000 reported being worse off, while 31% of higher earners said their finances have improved.
Lower-income respondents cited housing and food costs as their biggest economic challenges. Higher-income respondents were more likely to cite health insurance costs and retirement planning.
A majority of Americans said they have altered their spending to cope with rising prices, including cutting back on groceries, entertainment and holiday spending. Those earning under $50,000 were significantly more likely to report making such cuts.
Democrats hold edge on inflation
When asked which party they trust more to handle rising prices, 53% of respondents said Democrats, compared with 47% who chose Republicans.
Democrats held a clear advantage on the issue among women, independents, young voters, Black Americans and Latinos — groups whose turnout is expected to play a key role in the 2026 midterm elections.
