By Basant El-Faramawy
Anthropologist Alex Hinton attended Make America Great Again rallies in three states on Oct. 24-25, 2026, and found that despite President Donald Trump’s plummeting approval ratings, a core base of supporters remains loyal for three main reasons.
Poll shows declining support
A mid-October 2026 poll found only a third of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s job performance, with 71% saying the country is on the wrong track. The decline comes amid a war with Iran that has killed and wounded U.S. soldiers, spiked gasoline prices, and cost billions of dollars, as well as growing inflation and an affordability crisis that has eroded economic confidence.
Three reasons for continued loyalty
Hinton identifies three factors that keep MAGA diehards behind Trump, all emphasized by speakers such as activist Scott Presler and Rep. Dan Meuser at a Turning Point USA event near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Socialist doomsday fear porn
Supporters respond to warnings that “radical left” Democrats, including figures like Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, would drive the country toward socialism. Trump allies such as Jesse Watters and Greg Gutfeld amplify what they call “fear porn,” linking unrest in France to a supposed Democratic vision for America.
Border invasion narrative
Trump’s 2024 victory rested heavily on immigration and the economy. Loyalists credit his administration with shutting down what they describe as a border invasion, and speakers at the rally highlighted the immigration crackdown as a key achievement.
Trump’s business record and first-term successes
Many supporters point to Trump’s long business career and what they perceive as the successes of his first term, viewing him as uniquely capable of managing the economy despite current headwinds.
