President Donald Trump’s approval among voters ages 18 to 24 was 15% in 2026, CNN data analyst Harry Enten said, as Democrats made midterm gains with younger voters.
The Independent reported that Enten discussed the figures with CNN anchor Kate Bolduan on Thursday, Nov. 12. He put the 2026 approval reading beside a 43% figure from 2024.
Enten’s explanation identified the 2024 number as vote share and the 2026 reading as approval. The 28-point difference compares distinct measures; it does not establish that approval fell by 28 points.
Tufts University research put Biden’s margin among young voters at 25 points in 2020. In 2024, Harris led Trump among young voters by four points, the university found. Those figures track election margins, while Enten’s later figure was an approval reading.
Enten linked younger voters’ movement toward Democrats to frustration over health care, rising costs and the Iran war. He said many who had given Republicans a chance after 2024 turned back toward Democrats, and identified that shift as one reason for the party’s strong midterm result.
The Independent also reported that Trump’s 2024 campaign sought young audiences through podcasts hosted by Joe Rogan and Theo Von. In those interviews, he discussed policy alongside subjects such as cancel culture and the UFC.
The Independent reported that Trump told CBS News’ “60 Minutes” after the midterms that some voters might have considered his administration’s immigration crackdown too severe and that it might have cost him support.
An earlier EconoTimes report on Congress’ role after the midterms cited an AP account of a Chatham House analyst who said lawmakers may have more scope to scrutinize the president on domestic matters than in foreign affairs.
