Are Trump's Core Supporters Turning Away?... Young Conservatives Also Voice Discontent Over War

Rifts Emerge Within Trump’s Core Support Base
Impact of Iran War and Soaring Inflation

Signs of division are spreading within the core support base of U.S. President Donald Trump over the aftermath of the Iran war and persistent high inflation. Following non-college-educated white working-class voters, it appears that even young conservatives are withdrawing their support.

On the 16th (local time), a participant wearing a hat with the phrase "MAGA (Make America Great Again)" stood at a tax cut policy event held in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News Agency

The Washington Post (WP) reported on May 28 (local time), citing recent polling data, that non-college-educated white working-class voters—Trump's core support group—are turning away from him. Non-college-educated white voters have traditionally been regarded as Trump's most reliable base.

According to a poll released on May 17 by CBS and YouGov, 54% of white voters without a college degree gave President Trump a negative job approval rating, higher than the 46% who rated him positively. The poll had a margin of error of ±2.7 percentage points at a 95% confidence level based on responses from 2,064 people. The exact number of white voters surveyed was not disclosed, but it is estimated that they accounted for approximately 40–44% of all respondents.

As recently as February 2025, 68% of this group viewed Trump positively, but by February of this year, the negative view had risen to 45%, and now the numbers have reversed. WP analyzed that this represents a serious warning sign for the Republican Party ahead of the November midterm elections. Peggy Leaf, a 57-year-old welder who voted for Trump in the last three presidential elections, told WP, "During his first term, prices were low and gas was cheap. Now, he is focusing on foreign issues like Iran. He says it's for us, but honestly, I'm not so sure anymore."

A similar sentiment is emerging among young Trump supporters. Politico reported on May 18, after interviewing executives of the conservative student group Turning Point USA (TPUSA) at universities in swing states, that dissatisfaction is growing among young MAGA supporters over the Middle East war, high oil prices, and concerns about a prolonged conflict in the region. The media noted that students, in particular, feel that Trump's campaign promise of "no new wars" made during the 2024 presidential election has been broken.

Rebecca Bushmeyer, vice president of the TPUSA chapter at the University of Georgia, said, "Among Gen Z, there's a great deal of frustration and distrust toward the current administration regarding the decision to go to war with Iran. Many see this as a betrayal. We were promised there would be no new wars." Connor Davi, vice president of the TPUSA chapter at the University of North Georgia, also voiced opposition, saying, "We do not want to be dragged into yet another endless war in the Middle East."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.