The most recent poll, conducted between August 7 and 10 among 1,589 US adults, shows that Trump's net approval rating among Americans aged 45 to 64—a combination of Gen Xers and younger baby boomers—has plummeted to -25, with 60 percent disapproving of the way he is handling the job and 35 percent approving.

That is a significant drop from earlier this summer. A survey conducted between June 5 and 8 among 1,568 US adults found that the president's net approval rating was -10 among that age group, with 43 percent approving of his job performance and 53 percent disapproving.

A month later, a survey conducted between July 10 and 13 found that Trump's net approval rating had fallen to -12, as 43 percent of Americans aged 45-64 approved of his handling of the presidency, while 55 percent disapproved.

Trump's net approval rating has not only declined twofold among middle-aged Americans but also fallen at a faster rate than any other demographic group this summer, though it remained significantly higher than among Gen Zers and millennials.

As of the latest poll, Trump's net approval rating was -41 percent among Americans aged 18 to 29 and -35 among those aged 30 to 44. Among older Americans, those over 65, the president's net approval rating was -18.

"A drop that big among 45-to-64-year-olds stands out," said Craig Agranoff, an adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University who specializes in political marketing and campaigning.

"This is a large group that turns out reliably and pays close attention to pocketbook issues and retirement security," he told Newsweek.

Newsweek contacted the White House for comment by email on Friday morning.

The latest poll's findings on the state of the economy may offer an idea of why middle-aged Americans might be growing disenchanted with the president and his administration.

At 79 percent, Americans aged 45 to 64 were more likely than any other generation to say the current state of the US economy was "fair" or "poor." For adults aged 18 to 29, that figure was 72 percent—the same for those over 65. While 74 percent of those aged 30 to 44 said the same.

Only 19 percent of Americans aged 45 to 64 believed the economy was in an "excellent" or "good" state, which was again a lower number than any other age cohort: 24 percent for Americans aged 18 to 29, 22 percent for those aged 30 to 44, and 27 percent for those over 65.

A majority of middle-aged Americans—54 percent—also believed the economy was "getting worse", with only 14 percent saying it was "getting better". Inflation was the most important issue for all age groups, with 34 percent of middle-aged Americans saying so.

These figures were more or less the same through the summer.

Much of middle-aged Americans' dissatisfaction and concern over the state of the US economy likely comes from rising inflation since the war against Iran began on February 28, as energy prices shot through the roof.

Middle-aged Americans—also known as the "sandwich generation"—are often managing competing financial responsibilities, including mortgages and housing costs, college tuition for their children, and the necessary care for their elderly parents.

These financial burdens have gotten heavier over the past few years. Home price growth reported the 37th consecutive month of year-over-year increases in July, with the median sales price for an existing home at $434,100, according to data from the National Association of Realtors. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.69 percent last week, the fifth consecutive week of increases after rising from 6.43 percent to 6.66 percent over the course of July.

The latest data shared by Freddie Mac on Thursday found that the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was relatively stable over the past week at 6.67 percent—still near the peaks reached after the pandemic.

College expenses are rising faster than inflation, according to a new report that shows that the typical student's family spent $34,019 on college in the 2025-26 academic year, 10 percent more than a year earlier, at $30,837.

The cost of taking care of an elderly parent is also rising faster than older adults' incomes and inflation, led by an almost 50 percent increase in the costs of home care and assisted living, according to a recent report from the AARP Public Policy Institute. Within this period, the cost of adult day services rose 33 percent, while nursing home costs jumped 25 percent. However, household income for those 65 and older grew 22 percent.

As they approach retirement, instead of breathing a sigh of relief, middle-aged Americans are stressing over high housing and health care expenditure, weakened retirement confidence, concern over Social Security and Medicare, and tariff-related price effects.

The 2026 EBRI/Greenwald Retirement Confidence Survey found that about four in five workers and seven in 10 retirees were worried that the government would make changes to the US retirement system. Only about half of workers and six in 10 retirees were confident that Social Security and Medicare would continue providing benefits of equal value.

This is especially relevant to people aged 45 to 64 because they are approaching the key program ages while many remain dependent on employer-based work and health coverage. Social Security can generally be claimed from age 62, Medicare eligibility generally begins at 65, and full retirement age is 67 for people born in 1960 or later.

Agranoff believes that middle-aged Americans are likely being affected by growing concerns over the future of the two programs they hope to rely on in the near future.

"Social Security and Medicare sit high on their list of concerns, so any sense that those programs face pressure or that costs are rising can move numbers quickly," Agranoff said.

Middle-aged Americans have been a strong source of support for Trump in both the 2020 and the 2024 presidential election. In 2020, 50 percent of voters in this age group voted for Trump, according to national exit polls cited by NBC News, while 49 percent backed Joe Biden.

In 2024, Trump made gains with this age group—with 54 percent of voters aged 45 to 64 backing him, while 44 percent supported then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump's margin in the age group widened from +1 point to +10 points.

Their shift away from Trump "matters in national elections because these voters are often decisive in the suburbs and in swing states with older working-age populations," Agranoff told Newsweek.

He continued, "If the slide continues, Republicans will face a tougher map in competitive House districts and in places like Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin where middle-aged turnout can tip close races."