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# Fact brief: Did a recent poll specifically ask South Dakotans whether they approve of Trump?
- URL: https://www.sdnewswatch.org/fact-brief-south-dakota-poll-trump-approval/
- Published: 2026-08-18T09:00:18.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-18T09:00:17.000Z
- Description: A check of recent reports on the president's popularity.
- Author: Michael Klinski
- Tags: Fact briefs

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/ab/cbabab5e-2dc6-462c-94a0-b72956c0d224/content/images/2025/01/WhiteFACT-BRIEF--500-x-200-px--2-1-1.png)

## No.

A YouGov and Economist state-level estimate showing South Dakotans disapprove of President Trump does not come from a poll conducted specifically among residents.

According to The Economist's state-level estimates, only Idaho, Wyoming and West Virginia have positive net approval ratings for Trump. The poll lists his approval rating in South Dakota at -13.

YouGov polls about 1,500 members of its national opt-in panel weekly using online questionnaires. State-level approval rates are "estimated" based on demographic characteristics, voting behavior, the state's voting history and other data. Nationally, YouGov's tracker shows 34% approving of Trump's job performance and 61% disapproving, for a net approval rating of -27.

In May, a poll of 875 likely voters conducted by Keloland Media Group and Emerson College showed Trump with a 53% approval rating, while 42% disapproved.

Civiqs estimated that 51% of South Dakotans approved of Trump's job performance as of Aug. 11.

ℹ️

This fact brief responds to claims such as [this one](https://www.facebook.com/christopher.majka.73/posts/pfbid02AX19P6hy7qpkfnCDFVMat4mw19mtbGYjTqHu8EusYCgJ5qVMKsgEAxkDnruij9f1l).

### Sources

The Economist, [How unpopular is Donald Trump?](https://www.economist.com/interactive/trump-approval-tracker?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

KELO-TV, [Poll reveals approval ratings for South Dakota office holders](https://www.keloland.com/news/local-news/poll-reveals-approval-ratings-for-south-dakota-office-holders/?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

Civiqs, [Donald Trump job approval, second term](https://civiqs.com/results/approve%5Fpresident%5Ftrump%5F2025?uncertainty=true&zoomIn=true&annotations=true&ref=sdnewswatch.org)

### About fact briefs

Fact briefs are bite-sized, well-sourced explanations that offer clear "yes" or "no" answers to questions, confusions and unsupported claims circulating online. They rely on publicly available data and documents, often from the original source. Fact briefs are written and published by South Dakota News Watch as part of the [Gigafact](https://gigafact.org/?ref=sdnewswatch.org) network. Submit a question for us to answer [on the tipline](https://gigafact.org/tipline/south-dakota-news-watch/?ref=sdnewswatch.org).

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**South Dakota News Watch* is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at*[ *sdnewswatch.org*](http://sdnewswatch.org/?ref=sdnewswatch.org)*. *Contact freelance reporter Michael Klinski:* michael.klinski@sdnewswatch.org.*