President Donald Trump is experiencing a dramatic and rapid erosion of support among younger voters, a demographic crucial to his 2024 election victory, according to startling new polling data.
A Stunning Collapse in Favour
Appearing on CNN's OutFront on Thursday, chief data analyst Harry Enten presented findings from CBS News and YouGov that show Trump's favourability with people aged 18 to 29 is now in freefall. The rating has plummeted from a positive figure of +10 in February to a deeply negative -46 in the latest survey.
"This type of drop happening so quickly – you just don't see drops like that. It's stunning!" Enten remarked, borrowing a phrase from Trump himself to call the shift "yuge". He highlighted that while only 31% of 18-24 year olds backed Trump against Joe Biden in 2020, that figure jumped to 43% in the 2024 race, proving decisive in his win over Kamala Harris.
Influencer Backing Fades and Policy Discontent Grows
Much of the credit for Trump's 2024 outreach to young people was given to his son Barron, who steered him towards appearances on popular right-wing podcasts like those hosted by Joe Rogan and Logan Paul. However, this support network appears to be fracturing.
Rogan, a key endorser, has recently grown critical, labelling Trump's immigration crackdown "f***ing nuts" and mocking his texting style. He has also publicly distanced himself from Trump's continued claims of a stolen 2020 election, stating in August, "I don't think they have any evidence."
Further clues for the disillusionment come from another late-November poll. It revealed young people's widespread disapproval of several Trump administration policies, including aggression towards Venezuela, the high cost of groceries, the mass deportation programme, and a lack of transparency regarding Jeffrey Epstein.
The Political Landscape Shifts
The shifting mood coincides with the inspirational mayoral victory of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani in New York City, who ran on an affordability agenda that resonated with youth. Polling from Gallup adds context, showing that 49% of 18-34 year olds now view socialism favourably, compared to 43% for capitalism.
Looking ahead to a post-Trump era, a McLaughlin and Associates poll suggests Vice President JD Vance remains the frontrunner to succeed him, though his lead over Donald Trump Jr. has narrowed slightly. The former president's eldest son remains a potent figure within the MAGA base, untarnished by Washington politics, positioning him as a potential 2028 contender.
The rapid decline in Trump's standing with the youngest voters signals a significant vulnerability and a potential reshaping of the political coalition he will rely on for the remainder of his term.
