Donald Trump’s approval rating suddenly shifts with city voters 

President Donald Trump’s approval rating has experienced a sudden shift with urban voters, according to recent polling data. 

Newsweek contacted the White House for comment via email. 

Why It Matters

This development comes at a time when Trump’s political fortunes have fluctuated in response to economic policy moves, including controversial tariffs and tightening immigration restrictions. 

With economic anxiety and affordability remaining top concerns for American voters, changing urban sentiment could have significant implications for national politics and upcoming elections.

What To Know

Data from Quantus Insights signals a measurable jump in Trump’s support among city voters over recent months. 

In November 2025, Quantus’s urban sample placed Trump’s approval at 37 percent, with 60 percent disapproving—a net approval of -23 points. By December 2025, approval among this group had risen to 43 percent, with disapproval falling to 53 percent, narrowing his net disapproval to -10 points. 

Quantus’s polling, using a sample of 1,000 registered voters and a margin of error of ±3.3 percentage points, illustrates an over 6-point approval increase and a 7-point drop in disapproval among urban respondents in just one month.

The Quantus Insights polling reveals some further context: urban voters remain more likely than suburban or rural voters to strongly disapprove of Trump, but the December poll found the urban “strongly disapprove” rate had dropped to 42 percent, down from 51 percent in November—a significant 9-point decline. 

Strong disapproval was the largest single category overall among urban voters in both months, but strong approval is also significant, showing a polarized opinion.

Meanwhile, the share who “strongly approve” among urban residents registered 16.7 percent, mirroring upticks in “somewhat approve” responses.

The latest Quantus poll also highlights that economic anxieties and immigration policies are at the forefront of voters’ minds. 

Cost of living (groceries, housing, gas prices) remains the most commonly cited problem for 36 percent of Americans, followed by broader economic concerns (17 percent) and corruption (14 percent). 

While Trump’s shifts on tariffs and enhanced urban immigration enforcement have drawn criticism, recent urban polling suggests that these very policies may be bolstering his standing in cities that previously leaned against him.

What People Are Saying

Kristen Soltis Anderson, a Republican pollster, wrote in the The New York Times: “What’s crucial to understand about Trump’s poor approval numbers is that, unlike during his last time in the White House, people now disapprove of him because of the economy, not in spite of it. During his first term, concerns about him centered more on his style and approach, and his approval was lowest on issues like response to Covid-19. 

“However, his job approval on the economy was typically a bright spot in his polling, and in my view, it was that brand attribute—a belief that, for all the baggage, Mr. Trump might be worth having as president again if he could just fix the economy—that ushered him back to power.”

What Happens Next

Trump’s approval rating—particularly in urban areas—is likely to remain volatile. Upcoming factors include the ongoing debate over federal tariffs, city-specific immigration policy enforcement, and the wider national discussion on inflation and the cost of living.