Trump's Approval Plummets Among Latino Voters Ahead of Midterms
Al Jazeera Staff
A new Reuters-Ipsos poll finds President Donald Trump's approval rating stuck at a record-low 32%, with support among Latino voters dropping to 24%—the lowest of either of his terms. The erosion of his once-strong Latino backing comes as the November midterms near, with 52% of Latino voters now planning to vote Democratic.
A new poll conducted by Reuters and research firm Ipsos shows President Donald Trump's approval rating remains at a record low as the U.S. midterm elections approach in November.
The six-day survey, which ended Monday, found that only 32% of American voters approve of how Trump is running the country as president.
While that low figure has held steady since September, the latest Reuters-Ipsos results show support for Trump among Latino voters continuing to erode.
His approval among Latino voters fell to 24% this month, the lowest level of either of his two presidential terms.
The Republican leader had previously made significant inroads with this group of voters.
The Pew Research Center estimated that in the 2024 presidential race, Trump and Democratic rival Kamala Harris were separated by just three percentage points, winning 48% and 51% of the Latino vote respectively.
That marked a substantial jump for Trump from the 2020 election, when he won only 36% of the Latino vote.
Experts say the surge in Latino support helped Trump win in 2024, while his 2020 reelection bid ended in defeat against Democratic candidate Joe Biden.
Monday's poll shows the advantages Trump once enjoyed among Latino voters have largely vanished.
About 52% of Latino voters plan to vote Democratic in the November midterms, compared with 26% who back the Republican Party.
The upcoming midterm elections are seen as a referendum on Trump's second term and will determine whether Republicans keep their majorities in the U.S. House and Senate.
Democrats are capitalizing on Trump's low approval ratings, hoping to turn voter discontent with the president into electoral momentum for their party.
If Democrats win a majority in one or both chambers of Congress, it would place significant constraints on Trump's agenda for the remainder of his term.
But Trump is also facing dissenting voices from within his own Republican Party as the November 3 election nears.
One sitting Republican lawmaker, Representative Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida, released a campaign ad last month in which she addressed Trump directly: "The Latinos who helped put you in the White House in 2024 now feel betrayed."
She cited Trump's tough immigration crackdown as a source of strain. "Some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far," she said, pointing to the detention and deportation of immigrants without criminal records.
Experts also warn that the president's declining popularity, driven in part by concerns over the cost of living and his decision to launch a war against Iran, could hurt Republican candidates in key races across the country.
Still, Trump continues to express confidence in the Republican Party's prospects in the upcoming midterms.
He has also defended his decision to place himself at the center of the GOP campaign strategy. Trump recently launched a 32-day campaign blitz with rallies across the country ahead of the November 3 election.
"Just so you understand, they all want me involved," Trump said, dismissing reports that some Republicans want him to keep his distance. "They all want me to campaign."
