Since taking office as vice president in January, JD Vance‘s favorability has steadily declined, according to tracking data from Civiqs.
On January 20—the day of Vance’s inauguration—43 percent of registered voters viewed him favorably, while 51 percent held an unfavorable view, giving him a net approval rating of -8.
As of August 1, those numbers have worsened. Just 42 percent now view Vance favorably, while 54 percent view him unfavorably, widening his net disapproval to -12 points.
Other polls reflect the same trend. Atlas showed that Vance’s favorability fell from 49 percent in January to 44 percent in July, with unfavorability rising to 55 percent. YouGov/Economist also reported a decline, from 39 percent favorable and 45 percent unfavorable in January to 37 percent favorable and 51 percent unfavorable in July.
Newsweek has contacted the vice president’s office for comment via email.
Lauren Leigh Bacho/AP
Polarization Drives Decline Among Key Voter Groups
Polling data suggests that Vance’s falling favorability is the result of a sharply polarized political climate in which his appeal is hardening among conservatives but eroding among moderates, liberals, younger voters, and communities of color.
In the YouGov/Economist polling, unfavorable sentiment surged by 9 and 12 points respectively among liberals and moderates, while conservative support rose slightly to 80 percent. The trend is similar in Civiqs polling, with 89 percent of Republicans viewing him favorably, while Democrats overwhelmingly disapprove—just 3 percent favorable and 95 percent unfavorable.
Both polls also show strong support for Vance among older and white voters, who are key to the GOP’s base.
White voters remain Vance’s strongest racial group, with 50 percent of white voters viewing him favorably in Civiqs polling and little change reported in YouGov’s data. And Vance has favorability ratings of 48 percent in both the 50-to-64 and 65+ groups, according to the Civiqs data.
Youth, Independents, and Voters of Color Turn Away
But, outside of those groups, Vance’s support is slipping. Independent voters, long seen as a key swing bloc, are turning away: Civiqs finds independents more negative than positive toward Vance, while YouGov reports a 6-point increase in unfavorable sentiment and a slight drop in favorability.
Among younger voters—those aged 18 to 34 in Civiqs and 18 to 29 in YouGov—Vance’s numbers are sharply negative, reflecting a generational divide that continues to widen. The data suggests that younger Americans, whose values tend to lean more progressive on cultural and economic issues, are increasingly resistant to Vance’s messaging and policy positions.
The racial gap in perception is just as stark. Civiqs shows only 10 percent of Black voters view Vance favorably, while 85 percent view him unfavorably. The YouGov/Economist poll shows Black voter favorability dropping from 26 percent in January to just 16 percent in July, while unfavorable views surged to 65 percent. Hispanic voters also trended more negative in both surveys, signaling a broader pattern of disengagement among communities of color.
Trump Fallout Adds to Headwinds
Polls have shown Trump’s popularity drop to an all-time low in recent weeks amid backlash over the Jeffrey Epstein files and pessimism about the economy.
Inflation rose to 2.7 percent in June, and job growth slowed sharply in July, with just 73,000 new jobs added—down from 147,000 the previous month, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate edged up to 4.2 percent, though it remains near historic lows.
At the same time, a bipartisan majority of voters now believe that the government should release all files related to Epstein, with many suspecting a cover-up.
Epstein, a wealthy financier and convicted sex offender, died by suicide in jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. There is no evidence that Trump was involved in Epstein’s crimes. Trump has acknowledged knowing the man in the 1990s and early 2000s but maintains that he cut ties with him well before Epstein’s 2006 arrest. A recent Wall Street Journal report uncovered a 2003 birthday card Trump allegedly sent to Epstein. The card included a drawing of a naked woman and the message: “We have certain things in common … may every day be another wonderful secret.”
Vance has dismissed reporting by the Wall Street Journal, calling the report alleging that President Trump once sent a “bawdy” birthday card to Epstein “bogus.”
Vance also alleged the Wall Street Journal was coordinating an attack to damage Trump’s character, calling the report “fake news.”
Nonetheless, the Epstein allegations have created rare tension between Trump and Vance and their supporters, according to Professor William Hall, an adjunct professor of political science and business at Webster University in St. Louis.
“The highly sensitive nature of the allegations—involving abuse of children and a possible cover-up—has triggered an unusual level of friction between Trump and his supporters, something we haven’t seen before,” Hall told Newsweek.