Much has been made about President Trump’s base — the ones who would support him even if he shot somebody on Fifth Avenue. Among Republicans, the president enjoys an 82 percent approval rating, according to the latest New York Times/Siena poll, even as his overall approval ratings have reached new lows.
But there is more doubt among his base than what is generally acknowledged. In fact, one-third of the voters who approve of the president’s job performance also say they disapprove of his handling of various issues, including the economy, Iran, relations with Israel or immigration.
What could account for that discrepancy, and could this group represent a faint crack in the Republican bulwark?
In interviews with two dozen of these loyal but skeptical Trump supporters, many resent their depiction as knee-jerk MAGA voters.
Nick Works, 50, a pastor living in Gaithersburg, Md., dislikes the stereotype of Trump supporters as unshakably devoted to the president.
“I wish we could live in a world,” he said, “where we could admit that you disagree with someone, but still admit they have some good ideas.”
He appreciates that Mr. Trump is trying to revitalize American manufacturing, but says he does not care for the president’s “braggadocious nature” or his excessive spending.
These voters see themselves as making pragmatic choices from an unappetizing set of options. If they are unsure at times of Mr. Trump, they have all but lost faith in the Democratic brand. At least, many say, the president has tried to fulfill his promises — especially on immigration.
Many of this group say they have stuck with Mr. Trump, despite doubts, because he has delivered on campaign promises.
Kathryn MacKinney, 32, an emergency medical technician who lives near Dayton, Ohio, said that the president has put American interests first when dealing with allies.
“We can get steamrolled by other countries,” she said. “I’m very happy that he’s made other countries listen to us and back down.”
Immigration enforcement stands apart as the issue where Trump supporters are most satisfied. More than 80 percent of Republicans say they want the next Republican presidential candidate to follow Mr. Trump’s lead on immigration, in the Times/Siena poll.
But the loyal but skeptical supporters were also twice as likely as voters who approve of Mr. Trump on every issue to say that the country should focus on issues at home and be less involved in problems around the world, the poll found.
“I used to really like him, and I still like him, but I’m at the point where I’m nervous about things that are transpiring,” said Donna Awana, 77, a retiree living in Honolulu. “With the war in Iran and the economy, I’m just a little hesitant about him right now.”
Ms. Awana, who once ran an employment agency, thinks that Mr. Trump is doing a good job on core issues like immigration. But she is among the third of Republicans who disapprove of how he is handling the cost of living, a remarkably high share, given the tight grip Mr. Trump typically has on his supporters.
“I wish he took the economy just as seriously as he does immigration,” she said.
Mr. Trump may benefit from how these voters feel about the Democratic Party. Like Americans across the political spectrum, these Trump voters are deeply dissatisfied with both political parties. Adrian Pellot, 43, said he voted for Mr. Trump in 2024 after years of voting for Democrats. He said he came to Mr. Trump after frustration with what he felt was the Democratic Party’s focus on racial politics.
“I’m surprised I found myself agreeing with a lot of his policies and going that route,” said Mr. Pellot, a police officer in Enfield, Conn. “As a person, I don’t like him. I find him gruff and vulgar. But he’s also entertaining, and I can’t argue with that!”
David Baldonado, 47, runs a small office supply business in Oxnard, Calif., and says he voted for Mr. Trump in the last three presidential elections.
He said he would give the president a “C minus” for his handling of the economy and the war in Iran.
That said, he would vote for Mr. Trump again, if he ran for a third term: “He would do a better job than the Democrats. A lot better.” (The Constitution sets a two-term limit for presidents.)
Nicholas Thomas, 21, of Birmingham, Ala., feels the same way.
“I like what Trump has done for America internationally and in the trading scene,” he said.
At the same time, he said, “I’m not a Donald Trump fan by any means,” he said. “It was the lesser of two evils.”
Mr. Thomas, a financial adviser, said he felt Democrats were going too far on many social issues.
For a few Republicans, though, there is a last straw.
David Poole, 68, a retired electrician in Jacksonville, Fla., voted for Mr. Trump three times.
“But I’m a Christian and I don’t like what he did — trying to portray himself as Jesus,” he said. “That was blasphemy. I wouldn’t vote for him to be the next dog catcher.”
