Are Americans falling out of love with Trump?
Exclusive polling from Public First reveals that American sentiment toward Trump is increasingly negative, with 50% now viewing him unfavorably. However, MAGA Republicans remain strongly supportive, while non-MAGA Trump voters show growing disillusionment. Key dividing issues include the economy, Trump's papal controversy, and debate over a potential third term.
Summary
New exclusive polling from Public First paints a mixed but broadly challenging picture for President Donald Trump's public standing. Overall, only 33% of Americans hold a positive view of Trump, while 50% now feel negatively toward him — a significant indicator of eroding national support.
When the data is filtered to focus solely on those who voted for Trump in the 2024 election, the picture shifts considerably. Among that group, 73% remain positive and only 13% feel negative. However, a notable internal divide has emerged within Trump's own voter base. Self-identified MAGA Republicans remain overwhelmingly loyal, with only 4% expressing negative feelings. In contrast, more traditional, non-MAGA Republicans who nonetheless voted for Trump show much greater disillusionment, with 23% now feeling negatively toward him.
A focus group conducted by Public First with Trump voters helped explain these divisions. Participants expressed approval of Trump's actions to halt immigration at the southern border, but economic concerns dominated the conversation. Voters reported feeling financial pressure, particularly around rising petrol prices, suggesting the cost-of-living issue is cutting into his support.
Another significant finding involved Trump's public dispute with Pope Leo, including Trump calling the Pope 'weak' and posting an image that appeared to depict himself as Jesus Christ. This controversy resonated negatively with voters — over half said it made them view Trump more negatively, including 19% of self-identified MAGA supporters, a rare point of criticism from his core base.
Despite these tensions, enthusiasm for Trump in certain quarters remains intense. The poll found that 20% of Americans believe the U.S. Constitution should be rewritten to allow Trump to run for a third term, with over half of MAGA Republicans supporting that position. Those in favor argue that Trump needs more time to fully deliver on his MAGA agenda.
Key Insights
- Public First polling shows that while only 33% of Americans overall view Trump positively, 73% of his 2024 voters still do, revealing a sharp gap between his base and the broader public.
- A significant internal split exists among Trump's 2024 voters: only 4% of MAGA Republicans feel negative about Trump, compared to 23% of non-MAGA Republicans who voted for him — suggesting traditional conservatives are souring faster than his core base.
- Focus group participants cited the economy as more important than immigration, with rising petrol prices specifically identified as a source of frustration among Trump voters.
- Trump's public feud with Pope Leo — including calling him 'weak' and posting an image portraying himself as Jesus Christ — turned over half of respondents more negative toward Trump, including 19% of his own MAGA base.
- 20% of Americans support rewriting the Constitution to allow Trump a third term, with over half of MAGA Republicans backing the idea, citing the belief that Trump needs more time to deliver his MAGA vision.
Topics
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