Trump Approval Rating Shocker

President Donald Trump is experiencing a noticeable upswing in support among Hispanic voters, according to new polling data released this week. A recent Civiqs/Daily Kos survey, conducted from May 17 to 20 with 1,018 registered voters, revealed a 15-point jump in Trump’s approval among Hispanic voters rising from 42 percent in April to 57 percent in May. Simultaneously, his disapproval rating dropped by 13 points, now sitting at 43 percent. The margin of error for this poll is ±3.2 percentage points.

Additional confirmation comes from a YouGov/Economist poll conducted between May 16 and 19 among 1,710 adults. That survey found Trump’s approval among Hispanic voters climbed to 32 percent, up from 25 percent just a month earlier. His disapproval rating also declined, dropping by 9 points to 62 percent. That poll carried the same margin of error of ±3.2 points.

Historically, Hispanic voters have leaned Democratic, with past elections showing clear preference for Democratic candidates. Barack Obama won 66 percent of the Hispanic vote in 2012, and Hillary Clinton followed closely with 65 percent in 2016. Joe Biden secured 63 percent in 2020. However, recent shifts suggest the Democratic stronghold on this voter bloc may be weakening. In the 2024 election, Trump earned 43 percent support from Hispanic voters, up 8 points from 2020, and the highest level recorded for a Republican candidate in modern polling.

These latest surveys suggest that Trump’s support among Hispanic voters remains solid and could be growing. Much of that support appears to be tied to his stances on immigration and trade. The Civiqs poll found that 53 percent of Hispanic voters now support Trump’s immigration enforcement policies, compared to 47 percent who oppose them. A similar 53 percent favor his tariffs, while 45 percent are against them. Just a month ago, only 49 percent approved of his immigration approach, and just 44 percent supported his tariffs.

Despite these gains, not all polls paint the same picture. A recent Quantus Insights survey, conducted from May 5 to 7, showed Trump’s approval among Hispanic voters slipping from 46 percent in April to 41 percent. His disapproval in that poll climbed to 51 percent. Another study by Equis Research and Data for Progress found deeper divisions within the Hispanic community. Their findings revealed that 66 percent of Latino voters believe Trump’s deportation plans are overly aggressive and unfairly target immigrants who contribute positively to the country. This sentiment includes 36 percent of Latinos who voted for Trump in 2024.

Interestingly, even among Latino voters who supported Biden in 2020 but flipped to Trump in 2024, a group labeled “Biden defectors,” 64 percent felt Trump’s deportation approach went too far. The Equis poll, conducted from April 16 to May 5 with 2,500 Latino registered voters, suggests there are potential limits to Trump’s appeal even among those who have recently switched allegiance.

Further insight came from an April survey conducted by UnidosUS, Voces Unidas, LULAC, and Climate Power. It revealed growing dissatisfaction among Latino voters with the direction of the country and the current economic conditions. Sixty percent said the U.S. is on the wrong path, and only 19 percent believed the economy had improved since 2024. Just 29 percent were optimistic that current economic policies would benefit their financial future.

Economic concerns were front and center for respondents, with the cost of living, jobs, housing, and health care being top priorities. Sixty percent felt Trump and Republican lawmakers were not doing enough to curb everyday expenses, and 66 percent feared Trump’s proposed tariffs could drive up prices and reduce economic opportunity.

On immigration, while the majority supported tough measures against dangerous criminals, they opposed the blanket targeting of undocumented immigrants who lacked criminal records. Many voiced concerns about overreach, with 43 percent expressing fear that immigration authorities might detain them despite their legal status or citizenship.

Taken together, these polls show a complex and evolving relationship between Trump and Hispanic voters. While he is gaining traction on key issues, particularly immigration and trade, his broader policy positions continue to face resistance within this diverse and influential voting group.