Weekend Staff Writer
Nearly one in four voters who supported PresidentDonald Trump in the 2024 presidential race have questions about whether they made the right decision, according to a new poll.
Newsweekreached out to the White House for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Trump became the firstRepublican to win the popular vote in 20 years in last year's presidential race, but his approval rating hasquickly tumbled over the past few months as he faces backlash oversome of his administration's deportations, tariffs and the cuts recommended by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
How Americans feel about Trump will be a key factor in the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races later this year, as well as the 2026 midterm elections. Historically, the president's party loses seats during the midterms—andDemocrats are hoping for a 2018-esque "blue wave" if Trump's approval continues to drop.
What to Know
The new poll from the University of Massachusetts Amherst showed that 26 percent of Trump's 2024 voters have at least some concerns about their choice, though notably the majority, 74 percent, still are confident in their vote.
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Only two percent said they wish they could have voted differently, and an additional one percent said they "might" have voted differently. Four percent said they have mixed feelings about their vote, while 19 percent said they feel confident about their vote but do have "some concerns." An additional one percent of Trump voters said they would have rather not voted at all.
Among those who backed Vice PresidentKamala Harris, 78 percent said they are confident they made the right decision. Four percent said they are confident about their vote but have some concerns, while 3 percent said they have mixed feelings about their vote. One percent said they would have changed their vote if they could do so.
Still, 14 percent of Harris voters said they would rather have not voted.
Ray La Raja, co-director of the UMass poll, toldNewsweekthe poll shows that Trump has enjoyed a short honeymoon due to the uncertainty his policies have caused, even among his own voters.
"I think he's shortened the honeymoon because he's done so much so fast, so he's sped the process up. He's created a great deal of uncertainty. That's how I read many of these results. The Democrats are totally against him, obviously, but it's even created uncertainty amongRepublicans. They're giving him a lot of slack, but the uncertainty is making them a little nervous," he said.
He noted that most of these voters would still probably vote for Trump if the election were held today, but that may change in the coming months if the state of the economy does not improve.
"If he thinks this is working, he needs to demonstrate in the next few months how it's working," he said.
What People Are Saying
Meredith Poll Director David McLennan,in a poll report of North Carolina voters released Tuesday:"Our survey was in the field as President Trump implemented the nearly universal tariffs and the stock market dropped significantly. It is hard for people to be optimistic about the economy's future when they are worried about the price of goods and their retirement funds."
Trumpsaid on Truth Social, in response to an NBC poll suggesting a growing number of voters identify as MAGA supporters: "A just outNBC Poll says that MAGA is gaining tremendous support. I am not, at all, surprised!!!"
What Happens Next
La Raja said these poll results could have implications for Republicans in thegubernatorial races later this year.
"Usually, the outparty is very mobilized, angry, and ready to go to the polls. That's definitely the case in both New Jersey and Virginia. It's going to be a pattern of backlash against the incumbent party," he said.
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