Americans back Trump on immigration, sour on his economy: Poll
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Nearly half of American adults approve of President Trump's harsh immigration crackdown, but his economic policies are unpopular, according to a Monday poll from Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Why it matters: Trump's multipronged efforts to curb immigration are the most popular aspect of his second term, but most respondents oppose his tariffs and economic policies.
By the numbers: Respondents view Trump's overall performance more negatively than positively, the poll found.
- Nearly half (49%) of those polled approve of Trump's handling of immigration, followed by 46% approval for government spending.
- At the low end, 38% support his trade negotiations with other countries.
State of play: Trump has prioritized a harsh approach toward immigration in his first two months in office, following through on a campaign promise.
- This month, the administration has been defiant of court orders after deporting roughly 250 Venezuelans to a prison in El Salvador.
- Authorities have also targeted foreign students allegedly for their pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses.
Zoom out: Consumer confidence recently reached a 12-year low, with consumers most worried about inflation.
- The Trump administration is set to institute tariffs on Wednesday, but it's unclear how aggressive these measures will be. The uncertainty has already tanked the stock market and economic sentiment.
Flashback: In 2023, a low of 3 in 10 Americans approved of former President Biden's handling of the economy.
- Both immigration and the economy were priorities for voters who supported Trump.
Go deeper: World teeters on edge, awaiting Trump's tariff revenge
Methodology: Results based on interviews with 1,229 U.S. adults conducted March 20-24, 2025. The margin of error is ±3.9 percentage points for the full sample.
