Sharp Decline in Evangelical Support, April 2026

A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll conducted April 27-30 2026 shows President Donald Trump’s approval rating among white evangelical Christians fell to 64 percent, down from 69 percent in a January 2026 poll. The net approval rating (approve minus disapprove) dropped from +40 in January to +30 in April, a ten-point decline in three months. The poll surveyed 1,322 adults by phone, text and online interviews, with a margin of error of ±3.3 percentage points.

Newsweek

White evangelical Christians, who comprised roughly 27 percent of the electorate in 2024, delivered an 82-percent to 17-percent margin for Trump in that election. Exit polling indicated they turned out in large numbers and provided a decisive margin. Historically, this bloc has shown unusually stable support for Republican candidates, anchoring Trump’s coalition across three election cycles.

Newsweek

• January 2026 poll: 69 percent approve, 29 percent disapprove; net +40; sample 1,462; margin ±2.9 pp.

Newsweek

• April 2026 poll: 64 percent approve, 34 percent disapprove; net +30; sample 1,322; margin ±3.3 pp.

Newsweek

• February 2025 net approval among white evangelicals: +51.

Newsweek

• April 2026 net approval: +30, marking a 21-point decline since early 2025.

Newsweek

• Overall national approval (April 2026): 37 percent approve, 59 percent disapprove; net -22, the lowest recorded in Trump’s second term.

Newsweek

The decline, though modest in absolute terms, is politically meaningful because the evangelical bloc is high-turnout and heavily Republican-aligned. Analysts note that erosion at the margins of a president’s base can translate into reduced turnout, softer enthusiasm, or greater volatility in upcoming elections, particularly the 2026 midterms.

Newsweek

President Trump dismissed the downward trend, asserting that his poll numbers remain among the best he has ever seen and that a hypothetical ballot placement would yield a landslide victory. The White House, through spokesperson Davis Ingle, emphasized the 2024 election as the “ultimate poll,” citing the election of nearly 80 million Americans as validation of Trump’s agenda.

Newsweek

• “It is a problem I'm not on the ballot. Everyone says if I was on a ballot, we'd win in a landslide. I have some of the best poll numbers I've ever had.” — Donald Trump, Newsmax interview

Newsweek

• “ When approached for comment, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle previously told Newsweek: "The ultimate poll was November 5, 2024, when nearly 80 million Americans overwhelmingly elected President Trump to deliver on his popular and commonsense agenda.” — Davis Ingle, White House spokesperson

Newsweek

The article relies on a single poll series from NPR/PBS News/Marist. No alternative polling data for the same period are presented, leaving a gap in cross-verification of the reported decline.

Newsweek

Analysts will monitor the 2026 midterm elections to determine whether the observed erosion in evangelical approval translates into reduced turnout, softer enthusiasm, or greater volatility among this high-turnout bloc, as highlighted in the poll’s conclusion.

Newsweek