Trump’s ironclad – While President Donald Trump’s approval ratings have dropped sharply in recent polling, Republican National Committee chair Joe Gruters told a television interview that the GOP base remains loyal and that Trump’s influence inside the party is “ironclad.” The t
On Tuesday, May 26, the conversation turned to the gap between President Donald Trump’s declining numbers and his staying power inside the Republican Party.
Filling in on The Story with Martha MacCallum. Fox News anchor Gillian Turner pressed Republican National Committee (RNC) chair Joe Gruters over multiple national surveys showing Trump underwater with voters. The exchange came as a new Fox News poll showed Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 39%—the worst showing recorded by the network during his current term. Turner described it as “remarkable” that the president could still maintain what she called an “ironclad” hold on the GOP despite the political headwinds.
Turner pointed to the polling snapshot displayed during the segment. In Fox News’ latest poll, Trump is at 39% approval. An Associated Press-NORC survey puts him at 37%, while a The Wall Street Journal poll shows 41% approval. In the Fox News survey—conducted between May 15 and 18 among 1,002 registered voters—61% said they disapprove of Trump’s performance overall.
“It is remarkable that with the president’s rating at around 39%, according to the latest Fox News poll, he is able to, you know, maintain an ironclad support from across the party, across the lines right now,” Turner said. “It’s something that I’m not the first person to comment on.”
Gruters pushed back hard. He dismissed the idea that Trump’s standing within the Republican Party is weakening. saying the president is “well-supported by the party base” and that “the base loves the president.” Gruters also argued that Trump’s role as party leader translates into electoral results—saying that when Trump “endorses candidates. ” those candidates “usually win.”.
To bolster that point, Gruters cited recent Republican primaries, where Trump-backed candidates reportedly went 37-0. He then referenced the Texas primary runoff election between Republicans Ken Paxton—endorsed by Trump—and incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, insisting that the RNC would back the GOP nominee through the November race.
“No matter what happens, we are going to be there to make sure we pick up the flag of our primary winner and we’re going to make sure that we take them all the way through the November race and make sure that we’re successful in winning this Texas seat,” Gruters said.
During the interview, Gruters also attacked Texas’ Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, appearing to refer to him as “Talafreako.”
The polling Turner raised didn’t just show lower approval—it showed cracks in areas that have historically mattered to Trump’s coalition. The Fox News poll suggested economic concerns are driving Trump’s declining approval numbers. Only 29% of respondents approve of his handling of the economy, while 71% disapprove. Inflation was even more damaging politically, with just 24% backing the administration’s response to rising costs.
Trump’s numbers also slipped among groups that have helped form his coalition. including rural voters. white voters. and non-MAGA Republicans. The poll further showed weakness on issues that once benefited him politically: border security fell into negative territory for the first time this term. with 49% approving and 51% disapproving of Trump’s handling of the issue.
Republican pollster Daron Shaw summed up what the poll appeared to be saying, telling Fox News: “Despite consistently strong GOP support, the president’s numbers are leaking a bit. Make no mistake; it’s all about affordability.”
Even with Gruters projecting confidence, the view from conservative circles is not unanimous. Earlier in May, former Fox News host Megyn Kelly argued that Trump’s MAGA coalition has narrowed considerably. Kelly said Trump’s remaining core supporters are an “increasingly tiny group” made up largely of “loyalists” resembling cult followers.
The result is a clash of narratives: Gruters insists Trump’s hold on the party base remains intact. while Turner’s polling push underscores how quickly voters appear to be pulling away from the president—especially on costs. inflation. and everyday economic trust. The question now is whether loyalty inside the GOP can outlast the erosion reflected in the numbers.
Trump approval rating RNC chair Joe Gruters Gillian Turner The Story with Martha MacCallum Fox News poll Associated Press-NORC Wall Street Journal poll inflation affordability border security Ken Paxton John Cornyn James Talarico Megyn Kelly MAGA coalition
39% is still like.. half the country???
Ironclad?? Lol the numbers are terrible. I don’t get how they keep saying he has support when the poll says 61% disapprove.
So basically they’re like “he’s losing but still winning” because “the base loves him.” That’s what always happens. Also Fox poll 39% like that’s just approval, not even registered voters voting for him or anything.
I feel like these polls are always rigged or worded weird. If 61% disapprove then why are they acting like it’s “remarkable” he’s still got GOP? Sounds like copium. And “ironclad” is such a joke word, they just repeat it for ratings. I’m not saying I like him, but the whole segment feels like propaganda either way.