In 2024, Donald Trump achieved a historic high for a Republican presidential candidate, securing 43% of the Hispanic vote, a significant jump from 35% in 2020, according to Pew Research Center. This shift helped narrow the Democratic lead, with 55% of Hispanic voters supporting Kamala Harris. However, recent polls in 2025 paint a starkly different picture, showing Trump’s approval among Hispanic voters dropping to its lowest point in his second term, driven by controversial immigration policies and economic challenges.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in August 2025 revealed that only 32% of Hispanic voters approve of Trump’s performance, marking the weakest support since his return to the White House in January. This represents a sharp decline from 47% overall approval in January and a significant drop from the 37% approval among Hispanics in the same poll earlier in the year. Similarly, a YouGov/Economist survey from August showed Hispanic approval at 28%, with 68% disapproving, down from 35% approval in July. SoCal Strategies polling further confirms this trend, noting Hispanic disapproval surging from 36% in January to 52% in August.
The primary driver of this erosion appears to be Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement. Since taking office, Trump has implemented sweeping measures, including mass deportation operations, increased raids in sanctuary cities, and the revival of old deportation cases. His administration allocated $45 billion to expand ICE facilities and build large-scale detention camps, such as the controversial “Alligator Alcatraz” in Florida. These policies have sparked widespread backlash, particularly among Hispanic communities. A March Pew Research survey found that 42% of Hispanic adults fear deportation for themselves or loved ones, significantly higher than the general population. YouGov/Economist data shows disapproval of Trump’s immigration approach rising from 64% in July to 66% in August, with 61% of Hispanics calling his policies “too harsh.”
Clarissa Martínez de Castro of the UnidosUS Latino Vote Initiative highlighted the impact, stating, “The indiscriminate assault on America’s immigrants, rife with abuse of power, is eroding Trump’s approval numbers, and not just with Hispanics.” She pointed to actions like arresting parents of U.S. citizens and militarizing cities as fueling perceptions of chaos rather than the promised order.
Economic concerns are also weighing heavily on Hispanic voters. Despite contributing over 30% of U.S. GDP growth since 2019 and wielding $2.4 trillion in buying power, Hispanic households face economic vulnerabilities, with a median income of $65,500 compared to $93,900 for white households, according to Census data. Inflation rose to 2.7% in June 2025, despite Trump’s campaign pledge to end it immediately, and job growth slowed to 73,000 in July from 147,000 the previous month, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These pressures hit Hispanic communities hard, as they are overrepresented in inflation-sensitive sectors like blue-collar, service, and construction jobs. The Financial Times noted a pullback in Hispanic consumer spending, with companies like Walmart and Constellation Brands reporting sales declines in border states.
Polls reflect this economic discontent. In August, 24% of Hispanics cited the economy as their top issue, with 16% focusing on inflation and 15% on immigration, per SoCal Strategies. While slight improvements were noted—Trump’s economic approval among Hispanics rose from 33% to 35% and inflation disapproval dropped from 69% to 62% in YouGov/Economist surveys—these gains are overshadowed by broader dissatisfaction. SoCal Strategies found 48% of Hispanics believe the economy is improving, but 26% see it worsening, indicating mixed sentiments.
Despite the decline, some polls suggest volatility. A Civiqs/Daily Kos poll from May 17–20 reported a spike in Trump’s Hispanic approval to 57%, up from 42% in April, though this was an outlier compared to consistent downward trends in other surveys. An InsiderAdvantage poll from the same period claimed 59.6% approval among Hispanics, but its reliability is questioned due to discrepancies with larger, more established polls like Reuters/Ipsos and Pew Research, which report Trump’s overall approval at 38%–40% and Hispanic approval consistently below 40%.
The backlash against Trump’s policies, particularly on immigration, and ongoing economic struggles suggest his 2024 gains with Hispanic voters may not be sustainable. As the 2026 midterms approach, both parties will likely intensify efforts to court this pivotal demographic, whose concerns over deportation fears, economic instability, and fair treatment will shape the political landscape.
