A sign in Cincinnati commemorating Trump’s memorable quote about inflation.Image: keystone
analysis
White Americans without a college degree are one of Donald Trump’s most loyal voter groups. For a long time, the population had virtually blind trust in the US President, particularly when it came to economic issues – but according to recent surveys, this trust is crumbling dramatically.
June 17, 2026, 04:57June 17, 2026, 06:41
With 49.8 percent compared to 48.3 percent of the total votes cast, Donald Trump won the 2024 US presidential election against Kamala Harris. In the white working class group (people without a college degree), however, Trump’s share of the vote was an overwhelming 66 percent. The widespread support of the white working class was one of the important factors why Trump was able to return to the White House.
As is well known, economic issues are of above-average importance to this group, which does not have a bed of roses financially. She reacts very sensitively to rising prices for gasoline or food and the cost of living in general. Trump consciously addressed corresponding concerns and fears during the election campaign with promises such as tax exemption on tips and overtime or protective tariffs for classic US industries. He gave people competence in economic issues – and the strategy caught on.
But now new surveys show that belief in Trump’s economic competence has now also fallen massively in this very group. The approval ratings in all media and institutes have been significantly lower since he took office, as shown New York Times has evaluated. Neither on CBS (39 percent), CNN (43 percent), Fox (33 percent) nor on NPR/PBS/Marist (40 percent) do the majority of the population in question signal trust in the US President.
Particularly noteworthy is an analysis of the newspaper that focuses on the point in time when trust was lost. The midterm elections in the USA are coming up in November. At the same time in 2018, during Trump’s first term in office, approval of the US president’s economic policies among the white working class was well over 65 percent – clearly more than was consistent with his overall policies.
Trump in May 2018: The US economy was performing solidly – and the Republicans’ losses in the midterms were limited.Image: keystone
Things will look completely different in 2026: While a total of almost 50 percent still approved of Trump’s policies, approval of economic issues has fallen to around 43 percent. A remarkable difference. There is a lot at stake for Republicans in the midterm elections. The worst-case scenario would be the loss of the majority in the Senate and House of Representatives – Trump would then be likely to degenerate into a lame duck at an early stage due to his already uncooperative nature.
The current mood is causing panic among Trump’s advisors. They do everything they can to present the US President’s economic policy in a positive light to the white working class. The Ministry of Finance recently published a report that explains how employees specifically benefit from Trump’s tax reform (BBB, Big Beautiful Bill), which was passed almost a year ago. Trump’s super PAC MAGA Inc. also recently launched its first campaign since the election campaign and spared no expense. The topic: How the BBB supposedly benefited the working and middle classes.
The activism is understandable: the midterms are fast approaching and there is certainly an awareness that the Republicans are in danger of a major defeat if they cannot count on the white working class. John McLaughlin, a Republican pollster who worked for Trump for a long time, told the NYT:
“Working-class voters are not happy with the Republican Party. And they might not vote.”
Since the dissatisfaction in other classes is even greater, white workers don’t even have to vote for the Democrats. McLaughlin fears that if they refuse to vote for Trump and stay at home, they could cause great damage to the Republicans:
“If they don’t vote, we lose the House of Representatives and the Senate.”
The reasons for the loss of trust are numerous. Contrary to Trump’s promises, the cost of living in the USA has not fallen during his time in office – on the contrary. The increased gasoline and heating oil prices are particularly significant because they are obviously related to a decision by Trump. They can be traced back primarily to the war against Iran – the fact that the US President started it without providing any stringent explanations was also obvious to loyal and sometimes seemingly blind followers of the 80-year-old. With the announced framework agreement, there are now signs of improvement here, despite still many question marks.
UFC and Iran instead of domestic politics: Donald Trump is currently setting clear priorities.Image: keystone
But otherwise the US president is doing little to appease the working class. Instead of dealing with the domestic political problems of his supporters in a public manner, he prefers to focus on geopolitics or stage himself and his 80th birthday with an opulent UFC event in front of the White House. Quotes also caused irritation when he recently tried to justify the latest economic figures to journalists. Trump explained:
“I love inflation.”
The quote is already being used by the Democrats as a slogan for the election campaign. Trump also previously stated that he “wouldn’t think about the financial situation of Americans.” And he described rising gasoline prices as “peanuts.” Given these cynical statements, it is hardly surprising that even those who have the most patience with the US President are beginning to have doubts – recent polls bear this out.