US President Donald Trump’s support among rural Americans has fallen to its lowest level since returning to the White House. The voter base contributing as key pillar for his electoral success is now declining due to rising fuel and food prices, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, and the concerns over the US-Israeli war on Iran is the driving this growing dissatisfaction.The survey, conducted from June 3 to 8, found Trump’s approval rating among rural voters had fallen to 50 per cent, down 10 percentage points from February. Disapproval climbed from 34 per cent to 48 per cent over the same period among one of the Republican Party’s most reliable constituencies.The weakening support comes less than five months before November’s midterm elections, when Republicans will seek to protect narrow majorities in Congress.The economy appears to be at the centre of the backlash. Only 31 per cent of rural respondents approved of Trump’s handling of the cost of living and the economy, while 61 per cent disapproved. In February, approval on those issues stood at 45 per cent.Trump’s nationwide approval rating has also slipped to 35 per cent, near the lowest point of his political career, as Americans increasingly worry that the conflict involving Iran could further raise fuel prices.
MAGA voters losing faith in Trump
Among those turning away from the president is Brian Rauch, a 42-year-old Air Force veteran from Stevensville, Montana, who voted for Trump in the last three presidential elections. Rauch said higher petrol and grocery bills have directly affected his daily life, while he sees little justification for the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran.“We’re in bigger water fights with AI, we’re all paying more for groceries and we’re all paying more for gas,” Rauch said, “My day to day is negatively impacted and I haven’t seen these other benefits.”He also voiced concerns about the rapid expansion of data centres in Montana, saying they could strain local water resources.Similar frustrations are emerging elsewhere in rural America. Bryan Shaver, a 62-year-old insurance agent from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, said persistently high food prices have left him worried about the Republican Party’s prospects in the midterms.“I have a feeling we’re going to be in big trouble in November,” said Shaver, a long-time Republican supporter who previously worked for Senator Roger Wicker when he was a congressman.The findings are notable given Trump’s dominance among rural voters in recent elections. According to Pew Research Center analysis, he won rural America by 40 percentage points in the 2024 election, improving on margins of 31 points in 2020 and 25 points in 2016.Economic pressures in rural areas have intensified in recent months. Residents typically drive longer distances than their urban counterparts, making them more vulnerable to rising fuel costs. Federal data show rural Americans travel an average of 30 miles a day by vehicle, compared with 17 miles for urban residents.Farmers are also facing a difficult year, with higher fertiliser costs linked to the Iran conflict, weak crop prices and reduced exports tied to Trump’s trade policies. Diesel prices have reached record highs in several states, squeezing farmers’ margins and prompting some fishermen to keep their boats in port rather than absorb the extra fuel costs.The Reuters/Ipsos poll surveyed 4,531 adults nationwide and had a margin of error of three percentage points for rural respondents.