Trump’s Approval Ratings Take a Turn with AANHPI Voters

Recent poll numbers show a significant drop in support for Donald Trump from the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community, and not just by a little. By a lot. Even the most bi-partisan supporter would have to admit that the numbers are pretty hard to ignore.

AtlasIntel polling, as shared by Newsweek, reported sharp declines in Trump’s approval rating. Support for the president among Asian voters was surprisingly strong just this past July (57% approved of his performance, while 43% disapproved, at a net positive of +14). By September those numbers cratered to just 26%, while disapproval shot up to 75%, a brutal 63-point swing in just two months, leaving a net approval rating of -49%. Yes, minus.

And AtlasIntel isn’t the only source reporting a dip. AAPI Data and the AP-NORC Center both released surveys with similar trends of unfavorable views of Trump among AAPI adults, rising to 71% by July, up from 60% just this last December.

So, what’s driving these numbers? 8 in 10 AAPI adults surveyed said they believe that Trump’s tariffs will negatively impact consumer prices. This, combined with a rise in inflation this summer, has created a perfect economic-anxiety storm. In fact, 65% of AAPI respondents said they’re “extremely” or “very” concerned about the U.S. sliding into a recession. Independent voters are especially sour on him, with 7 in 10 now holding an unfavorable view of Trump, up nearly 20 points since December.

Analysts suggest that a mix of economic fear, trade policy backlash, and recent polarizing rhetoric on immigration is to blame. For the fast-growing, politically important AANHPI community, this isn’t just a blip in the numbers. It’s a warning. Sure, Trump once seemed to be making positive inroads with voters of Asian descent, but if these numbers hold, that opportunity may be closing just as fast as it opened.

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