Fact-check analysisVerified as of July 25, 2025Curated by FactVerify
True

Working-class voters played a crucial role in Donald Trump's victories in both 2016 and 2024.

Working-class voters, particularly those without a college degree, were a key demographic supporting Donald Trump in both the 2016 and 2024 U.S. Presidential elections.

Donald Trump's Approval Rating Changes Direction With Working Class - Newsweek

Donald Trump's Approval Rating Changes Direction With Working Class - Newsweek

Source: newsweek.com

At a glance

Key Evidence

Verified July 25, 2025
The reporting

What the Evidence Shows

The claim that working-class voters played a crucial role in Donald Trump's victories in both 2016 and 2024 is supported by multiple credible sources. Working-class voters are commonly defined as those without a four-year college degree, and exit polls from both elections show that this group favored Trump by significant margins. For example, in 2016, about 64% of white working-class voters supported Trump,npr.orgnpr.orgWhy working-class voters have been shifting toward the Republican Party : NPR and in 2024, exit polls indicate a similar or slightly increased margin, with approximately 56% of noncollege voters backing Trump compared to 42% for his opponent.brookings.edubrookings.eduThe 4 working-class votes

This demographic formed a substantial part of Trump's political coalition and was pivotal in key battleground states that decided the elections.newsweek.comnewsweek.comDonald Trump's Approval Rating Changes Direction With Working Class Additionally, shifts in working-class voter preferences away from the Democratic Party over recent election cycles contributed to Trump's electoral success. While other factors such as racial and ethnic diversity among his coalition also played roles in 2024, the working-class vote remains a central element of his base.

The evidence is consistent across reputable polling organizations, academic analyses, and major news outlets, with no credible contradictory data found. Therefore, the claim accurately reflects the electoral dynamics of both elections.

Primary trail

Verified Sources6

Donald Trump's Approval Rating Changes Direction With Working Class

newsweek.com
Open source

Key Factors Predicting Support for Donald Trump Among White Working-Class...

prri.org
Open source
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