Donald Trump’s support among one of his historically most loyal voting blocs rural Americans is showing signs of steady decline. These voters have long been critical to Trump’s political strength, helping power his victories in key battleground states and shaping the Republican base. But recent polls suggest that grip is loosening, raising concerns about the stability of the coalition Trump needs to sustain momentum in his second term.
In the 2024 election, Trump won 63 percent of rural voters, an increase from 60 percent in 2020, according to AP VoteCast. However, a recent PBS/NPR/Marist poll conducted between April 21 and 23 among 1,439 adults reveals a sharp dip in that support. Only 46 percent of rural voters now approve of Trump’s job performance, while 45 percent disapprove. Just two months earlier, in February, 59 percent approved and only 37 percent disapproved. The swing indicates a notable shift in sentiment.
Trump’s approval is also faltering among urban and suburban voters. His approval among big city residents dropped from 42 to 40 percent, and among voters in small cities, it fell from 42 to 36 percent. In suburban areas, approval declined slightly to 40 percent. The only group showing increased support is voters in small towns, where approval climbed from 46 to 53 percent. The poll has a margin of error of ±3.3 percentage points.
Another survey, conducted by ActiVote from March 31 to April 29 among 576 voters, confirmed a similar pattern. Approval among rural voters dropped from 58 percent in March to 49 percent in late April. In January, approval was as high as 64 percent. Disapproval climbed from 40 percent in March to 46 percent in April. The margin of error for this poll was ±4.1 percentage points.
These polls reflect a consistent downward trend in Trump’s job approval, not only in rural America but across several demographic categories. Newsweek’s approval tracker currently places Trump at 44 percent approval and 52 percent disapproval among his lowest ratings since returning to office.
Additional surveys mirror this pattern. The latest YouGov/Yahoo poll, conducted April 25–28 with 1,597 respondents, showed his approval rating declined from 44 percent in March to 42 percent in April. His disapproval rating rose from 50 to 53 percent, deepening his net negative rating from –6 to –11. That poll had a margin of error of ±2.9 percentage points.
An Emerson College poll conducted April 25–28 among 1,000 registered voters found a small decline in Trump’s approval, from 47 to 45 percent, while his disapproval held steady at 45 percent. The margin of error was ±3 percentage points.
The data paints a clear picture: although Trump remains influential, cracks are forming in the foundation of his support, particularly in rural America a key demographic he can’t afford to lose.
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