Almost half of President Donald Trump’s voters disapprove of his administration’s bailout of Argentina, according to a new survey.
According to the poll by The Economist and YouGov, 48 percent of Americans who voted for Trump in the 2024 election said they disapprove of the U.S. government providing up to $40 billion in financial assistance to Argentina to help stabilize its economy, while just 30 percent said they approve. Twenty-two percent said they were not sure.
Newsweek has contacted the White House and the Treasury for comment via emails sent outside regular business hours.
Why It Matters
Trump has sought to help Argentina bolster its collapsing currency with a $20-billion credit swap line, and is reportedly looking to provide an additional $20 billion in financing from sovereign funds and the private sector for his close ally President Javier Milei ahead of midterm elections. The move has prompted criticism from across the political spectrum, including from Trump allies who say it goes against the president’s “America First” mantra.
Over the weekend, he also said the United States could buy Argentine beef in an attempt to bring down prices for American consumers, prompting further criticism and fury from American producers.
What To Know
Overall, the poll found that 56 percent of voters disapprove of providing the aid to Argentina, while just 20 percent said they approve. Across all demographics, more Americans disapprove than approve of the bailout.
The poll also found that when the question was rephrased to ask Americans if they approve of the Trump administration providing assistance to Argentina, a higher percentage of Trump voters said they approve. However, disapproval was still higher among the president's voters, with 40 percent saying they disapprove and 35 percent saying they approve.
The survey was conducted between October 17 and 20 among 1,621 U.S. adults, including 1,448 registered voters. The margin of error for all respondents is plus or minus 3.4 percent, and plus or minus 3 percent for registered voters.
What People Are Saying
Costas Panagopoulos, a political science professor at Northeastern University, told Newsweek: "These estimates suggest Trump voters are less supportive of aid to Argentina when it is framed as Trump's initiative compared to when it is described as an act of the U.S. government. While there is little change among Democrats regardless of how the question is framed, Republicans and especially independents express lower levels of support overall when asked about Argentina aid as a Trump administration policy, compared to a policy of the U.S. government. This may reflect skepticism among Republicans and independents about the administration's motives in providing this aid or perhaps a general sense that foreign aid should be provided by the government not the president."
Asked why U.S. farmers should support a bailout for Argentina on Sunday, President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One: “Nothing is benefiting Argentina, they’re fighting for their life. You understand what that means? They have no money, they have no anything, they’re fighting so hard to survive. If I can help them survive in a free world, I happen to like the president of Argentina. I think he’s trying to do the best he can. But don’t make it sound like they are doing great. They are dying, alright? They are dying.”
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Trump ally and Georgia Republican, wrote on X last week: “Americans are getting decimated with high cost of living and skyrocketing insurance costs. Many of them have zero savings and some are maxing out credit cards to survive. Tell me how it’s America First to bailout a foreign country with $20 or even $40 BILLION taxpayer dollars.”
Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X last week: “Rather than fix the health care crisis devastating Americans here at home, Donald Trump is DOUBLING DOWN on bailing out a right-wing MAGA strongman in Argentina by now trying to deliver $40 billion.
“This shows his priorities. He’d rather gift $40 billion to a MAGA-friendly government in exchange for NOTHING, rather than helping Americans lower their health care costs. What ever happened to America First?”
What’s Next
The Trump administration is likely to continue facing criticism over the bailout from both sides of the political aisle.
When the president met with his Argentine counterpart in the White House last week, he said that further U.S. support for Argentina would depend on Milei remaining in power following midterm elections that will be held in the South American country on October 26.
Update 10/22/25, 9:10 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to add comment from Costas Panagopoulos.
