The unravelling: Trump’s eroding coalition and the Republican Party’s reckoning

[SINGAPORE] Less than a year into his second term, US President Donald Trump confronts a political reality that would have seemed unthinkable during his 2024 victory: his approval ratings have collapsed to levels rivaling the darkest days of his first presidency.

Recent Gallup polling shows Trump’s job approval has fallen to 36 per cent, with disapproval reaching 60 per cent – a stark reversal from the electoral coalition that returned him to power.

The numbers tell a story of a fracturing base. Among Republicans, approval has plummeted from 91 per cent at his inauguration to just 79 per cent, representing a 12-point erosion within his own party. More troubling for the GOP’s 2026 midterm prospects, independent voters have soured dramatically, with approval dropping to just 25 per cent. These are not marginal shifts – they represent a coalition coming apart at the seams.