Trump Holds Ironclad Grip on GOP Despite Alarming Decline

Fox News anchor Gillian Turner questioned Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters on Tuesday about President Donald Trump’s declining poll numbers, saying it was remarkable that Trump still held what she called an “ironclad” grip on the Republican Party despite weakening public support. Turner’s comments came after a new Fox News poll showed Trump’s approval rating at 39%, the lowest figure the network has recorded for him during his current term. The poll reflected broader dissatisfaction with Trump’s performance as concerns over inflation, affordability, and foreign policy continue to weigh on voters.

During an appearance on The Story with Martha MacCallum on May 26, Turner cited several national surveys showing Trump underwater with the public. In addition to the Fox News poll, she referenced an Associated Press-NORC survey that placed Trump’s approval at 37% and a Wall Street Journal poll that showed him at 41%. The Fox News poll, conducted from May 15 to 18 among 1,002 registered voters, found that 61% disapproved of Trump’s overall job performance.

Turner questioned how Trump could maintain such strong party loyalty even as his numbers fell nationally. Gruters rejected the idea that Trump’s standing within the Republican Party was weakening, arguing that the president remains firmly backed by the GOP base. He said Trump is the leader of the party and noted that his endorsements continue to carry significant weight with Republican voters and candidates.

Gruters pointed to recent Republican primaries in which Trump-backed candidates reportedly won every race, describing that streak as evidence of the president’s continuing influence. He also said the party would fully support the winner of the Texas Republican Senate runoff, regardless of whether it is Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has Trump’s backing, or Senator John Cornyn. Gruters added that the GOP would unite behind its nominee heading into the November election.

The Fox News poll suggested that economic anxieties are playing a major role in Trump’s weakening approval. Only 29% of respondents approved of his handling of the economy, while 71% disapproved. His performance on inflation was even worse, with just 24% approving of his response to rising prices. The survey also showed slippage among groups that have traditionally been central to Trump’s coalition, including rural voters, white voters, and Republicans who do not identify with the MAGA movement.

Republican pollster Daron Shaw told Fox News that the drop in support is largely tied to affordability concerns, even though Trump still retains solid backing within the GOP. The poll also found signs of vulnerability on border security, an issue long seen as one of Trump’s political strengths. For the first time in his current term, approval on border security dipped below disapproval, with 49% approving and 51% disapproving of his handling of the issue.

Not all conservative voices agree with Gruters’ assessment of Trump’s political strength. Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly recently argued that Trump’s MAGA coalition has narrowed, saying his core support now comes from a smaller and more loyal group of followers.