Trump's McApproval Problem: How His Policies Affect McDonald's and His Own Approval Rating

President Donald Trump's approval rating has been linked to the performance of McDonald's stock price in a surprising way. While it might seem unrelated at first, research shows that the two have actually become connected due to the actions of one of them.

The study found that since January 2026, both McDonald's shares and Trump's approval rating have been declining together. However, when looking closer, it appears that this is just a coincidence rather than a direct correlation.

It turns out that Trump's policies, such as the war with Iran and tariffs on imports, have had a significant impact on American consumers. The increasing cost of gasoline, diesel, and food has led to a decline in McDonald's sales, which in turn has affected its stock price.

The study points out that Trump's base has not substantially cracked, despite his approval rating dropping from 49.9% to 38.4% over the past two years. This is largely due to his Republican supporters remaining loyal, with only a small decrease in their approval ratings.