Trump’s Rural Approval Falls to 50% as Farm Bankruptcies Jump 46%
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 19
Trump’s Rural Approval Falls to 50% as Farm Bankruptcies Jump 46%
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 19
Summary
Rural Americans’ approval of Trump fell to 50% in a Reuters-Ipsos poll this month, down from 60% shortly after his second inauguration as farmer frustration deepens ahead of the midterms.
Fuel and fertilizer costs tied to the Iran war, market volatility from Trump’s trade fights and the spread of New World screwworm in cattle are adding to already thin farm margins.
More than 300 farms filed for bankruptcy last year, up 46%, while USDA projects farm-sector debt will hit a record $624.7 billion this year.
Republicans are defending relief efforts including $12 billion in summer bailouts, crop-insurance subsidies and higher reference prices, but some farmers say the aid does not fix long-term instability.
The discontent has not produced a broad shift to Democrats, yet it is energizing rural challengers in states such as Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin and could matter if frustrated farmers stay home in November.
A new parasite threat and soaring costs are battering farmers. Is the U.S. agricultural sector approaching a breaking point?
Farmers want stable markets over aid, but trade policies remain volatile. What is the long-term plan for American agriculture?
Farm debt has hit a record $624 billion. Can massive government payments solve the crisis facing America's farmers?
Rural America in Crisis: Farm Bankruptcies Surge 70% and Trump Approval Plummets to 50% Amid Economic Turmoil (June 2026)
Overview
Rural America is facing a major shift in both sentiment and economic well-being as of June 2026. Once a stronghold for President Trump, rural support has dropped sharply, with approval ratings falling from 60% to 50% and disapproval rising from 34% to 48% in just over a year. This change is happening alongside deepening economic distress, especially in farming communities, where rising costs and lost markets are squeezing families. Since nearly one in five voters live outside cities and suburbs, and Republicans have long depended on these areas for election wins, these trends could have big impacts on upcoming elections.