President Donald Trump is facing a significant decline in his net approval rating, with working-class Americans expressing deep concern over the rising cost of groceries, according to CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten. A recent Washington Post-Ipsos poll highlights a stark shift in public sentiment, with 82% of working-class adults reporting that groceries are unaffordable.
Enten noted a dramatic change in public perception regarding grocery affordability. In February, a majority of Americans (54%) believed groceries were affordable. However, following disruptions to global trade routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, which have been linked to increased gas and food prices, that number has shifted. The latest poll shows 66% of Americans now consider groceries unaffordable.
The trend is particularly pronounced among Trump's core supporters. The Post-Ipsos poll, conducted between July 8 and July 13 among 2,648 adults, found that only 15% of surveyed adults "strongly approve" of Trump's job performance. Historically, Trump had strong support within the working class in the 2024 election. However, the current data reveals that only 16% of individuals with household incomes under $50,000 believe groceries are affordable.
"You rarely ever see 82% of any group agreeing on anything, but what you see here is that those working-class folks, those who have ... incomes under $50,000, the lion’s share — more than 4 in 5 — say that groceries are unaffordable at this point," Enten stated. While half of Republicans surveyed believe groceries are affordable, this sentiment is shared by only about a quarter of independents and Democrats.
Enten pointed to a significant reversal in economic trust, recalling that in October 2024, Trump held a 16-point advantage over then-Democratic nominee Kamala Harris on economic issues. "It's a whole different world, a switcheroo," Enten said, describing Trump's current net approval as "39 points underwater - under the Hudson River." He characterized this shift as a "flip-flop of greater than 50 points," concluding that "the working class have turned against Donald Trump. They simply do not believe things are affordable and are taking their anger out on him."
Enten raised the question of whether voters will extend this dissatisfaction to Republican candidates in upcoming elections, citing the current data as "unbelievable."