Polling Expert: Trump’s 49.5% Approval Rating Is ‘Very Solid’ Amid Economic Concerns

Polling expert Patrick Allocco, founder of the Zoose Political Index, stated Monday that a new InsiderAdvantage poll showing President Donald Trump’s approval rating at 49.5% aligns with other recent surveys and should not be considered an outlier.

Allocco noted the survey questioned 800 likely voters—a demographic historically more favorable toward Trump. “Likely voters always tend to do better with the president,” he said.

The expert added that InsiderAdvantage’s results fall within the range of recent polling from Rasmussen Reports (46% approval) and McLaughlin & Associates (50% approval). “They’re not an outlier,” Allocco emphasized. “That is a very solid number for the president.”

Allocco also addressed concerns over the unemployment rate, which rose to 4.6% in November—the highest level since 2020. He cautioned that the figure is impacted by data disruptions from a government shutdown and missing October household records. “November’s data carries a high degree of uncertainty,” he said, describing the current economy as operating at “stall speed.”

On inflation, Allocco explained why consumers have yet to feel relief despite the rate falling to 2.7%, its lowest since Trump’s first term. “When the president handed off the economy to [former President Joe] Biden, it was at a 1.4% year-over-year inflation rate,” he noted. Under Biden, prices rose by 22%, meaning consumers are still absorbing those increases.

Allocco said the White House has recently sharpened its economic messaging, particularly on affordability, and credited Trump and Vice President JD Vance with clearly linking policy to household budgets. He urged Republicans running for Congress in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections to reinforce this message with voters.