Donald Trump: A new round of pre-midterm polling suggests President Donald Trump faces a steep climb in winning back one of America’s fastest-growing voting blocs, with Indian American voters expressing widespread disapproval of his presidency just months ahead of the November elections.
Disapproval Runs Deep
The 2026 Indian American Attitudes Survey by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace found that 71 per cent of Indian Americans disapprove of Trump‘s job performance, with only 29 per cent approving. A separate 2026 Asian American Voter Survey found the numbers even starker on favourability, with 74 per cent viewing Trump unfavourably, including 56 per cent who called their view “very unfavourable.”
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A Reversal From 2024
The findings mark a notable shift from the 2024 presidential election, when Indian American support for Trump had narrowed the Democratic Party’s traditional advantage within the community. The latest data suggests those gains have not held, with 66 per cent of Indian Americans now saying they will back Democratic candidates in both Senate and House races, compared to just 18 to 22 per cent favouring Republicans.
India Ties Add to the Discontent
The dissatisfaction extends beyond domestic issues like immigration, the economy and tariffs. Fifty-five per cent of respondents specifically disapproved of Trump’s handling of US-India relations, with only 20 per cent approving, reflecting friction from trade tensions and tariff disputes that have strained ties between Washington and New Delhi.
High Turnout Expected
Donald Trump: Indian Americans also show unusually strong midterm enthusiasm, with 92 per cent of registered voters saying they plan to cast a ballot in November, among the highest turnout intentions recorded across major Asian American ethnic groups surveyed. With an estimated 16 million AAPI voters eligible in 2026, the community’s swing away from Republicans could prove consequential in tightly contested races heading into the midterms.
