As Donald Trump takes office for his second term Monday, a new poll shows that many of his top policy priorities lack broad support among Americans.
While eliminating federal taxes on tipped income is widely popular, other initiatives—including pardoning Jan. 6 participants, mass deportations, and tariffs on foreign goods—are met with resistance.
Why It Matters
The AP-NORC poll, conducted Jan. 9—13 among 1,147 U.S. adults, provides a snapshot of public opinion as Trump assumes office. While the president-elect claims a “powerful mandate,” the survey indicates divisions not only between Republicans and Democrats but also within his own voter base.
Nonetheless, there is a bipartisan will to get things done. A separate poll from the same organization shows 73 percent of Republicans and 77 percent of Democrats agree their parties should prioritize making real changes even it means compromising over sticking to their positions.
What to Know
Trump’s promise to conduct mass deportations of people in the U.S. illegally reveals deep divisions. The poll found that while 8 in 10 Americans favor deporting immigrants convicted of violent crimes—even if they are here legally—support drops significantly for mass deportations of those without criminal records. Only about 4 in 10 Americans favor such actions, and a slight majority oppose them outright.
Tariffs on foreign goods, proposed by Trump as a solution to issues such as illegal immigration and high food prices, are also unpopular. Nearly half respondents oppose imposing tariffs on all imported goods, with only 3 in 10 expressing support. Even among Republicans, just over half back the idea, with a significant minority opposed or neutral.
On the issue of pardoning participants in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, public sentiment is overwhelmingly against doing so. Only 2 in 10 Americans support pardoning the rioters, while 6 in 10 oppose it, including half who are strongly opposed. Even within the Republican Party, opinions are split, with about 4 in 10 supporting the move and 3 in 10 opposed.
Paris Climate Deal Exit Faces Opposition
In contrast, eliminating federal taxes on tipped earnings is one of Trump’s most popular proposals. More than half Americans favor this policy, including a strong majority of younger adults under the age of 30. Even among those neutral or opposed, many express openness to the idea.
On other key issues, Trump’s pledge to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement is opposed by about half Americans, with only 20 percent supporting the move. One surprise is that Democrats are only slightly more likely than Republicans to oppose getting rid of the debt ceiling.
Meanwhile, his plan to increase oil drilling on federal lands is favored by just a third of respondents, with about 4 in 10 opposing it. Similarly, proposals to eliminate federal protections for transgender students are met with more opposition than support.
What People Are Saying
President-elect Donald Trump has committed to signing a “record-setting number” of executive documents on his first day in office on Monday.
Trump has pledged to “drill, drill, drill” and sell more oil and other energy sources to allies in Europe and around the globe in order to establish “American dominance.”
Multiple U.S. outlets are reporting he will not immediately impose his promised tariffs on Canada, China, and Mexico. A Trump administration official told Reuters they will instead direct agencies in a memo to “investigate and remedy persistent trade deficits and address unfair trade and currency policies by other nations.”
What Happens Next
Trump is expected to act quickly on several of his promises, using executive orders to implement policies like mass deportations and withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement. Broader initiatives, such as imposing tariffs or eliminating federal protections for transgender students, may require congressional approval, setting the stage for a series of contentious debates.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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