While President Donald Trump’s approval rating remains in the low 40’s, largely driven by the perception that the cost of living remains a serious issue, several of the president’s recent populist policies are gaining broad appeal. Three new Trump policies — his tariff-funded rebate proposal, halt on immigration processing from unstable countries, and revised fuel-efficiency standards — are gaining strong support among voters. A new survey shows that voters are separating their overall approval of President Trump from their approval of a number of his America First proposals, and he is gaining approval on multiple domestic issues.
President Trump’s net approval rating sits at -9 points, with 43.9 percent approval and 52.9 percent disapproval in the latest Real Clear Polling average. While his approval rating took a dip after Democrats won the Virginia and New Jersey Governor races on Nov. 4, Trump’s net approval rating has increased by around three percentage points since it’s low on Nov. 13. Trump’s net approval rating sits at -9 points, and it sat at -12.3 points the week after the election. As Trump’s approval rating appears to be on the verge of a slow recovery, approval for his recent policies is growing.
The latest Quantus Insights survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted Dec. 4-5 shows that while President Trump’s net approval rating remains negative, his proposals to use a portion of tariff-revenue to provide middle-class families with rebate checks, tackle the national debt, and offer tax cuts to Americans, is widely supported. Americans also support President Trump’s halt on processing visas from a growing list of unstable nations after the tragic death of a National Guard member in November. Support for the Trump Administration’s revised fuel-efficiency standards also receives strong support, including from independents.
President Trump’s proposal to begin issuing $2000-annual rebate checks to middle-income Americans using tariff revenue, as well as directing a portion of tariff-revenue to tackle the national debt and reduce taxes, is broadly popular. Americans support the proposed tariff-revenue line items by 20 percentage points, 51 percent to 31 percent, with 18 percent undecided.
Support for the proposed line items is popular among a sizeable number of independents and Democrats as well as Republicans. Independents support the proposal by 17 points, 47 percent to 30 percent, with 23 percent unsure. Democrats oppose the proposal by 27 points, 54 percent to 27 percent, but that means over a quarter of Democrats support President Trump’s rebate proposal and effort to tackle the national debt. Republicans support the proposal by 69 points, 78 percent to nine percent, with 13 percent unsure.
Americans are also broadly supportive of the Trump Administration’s pause on processing green card, asylum, and citizenship applications from a growing list of unstable nations after the tragic shooting of two National Guard members, reportedly by an Afghan-national. Since then, the Trump Administration has halted processing visas from nineteen counties, and according to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, the list could expand to around 30 different nations. Americans strongly support this move by 15 points, 53 percent to 38 percent.
Independents support the halting of applications from the list of unstable nations by nine points, 48 percent to 39 percent. While Democrats oppose the move by 51 points, 71 percent to 20 percent, 20 percent of Democrats support the pause on processing applications from unstable nations. Republicans support the move by 77 points, 86 percent to nine percent.
When it comes to the Trump Administration’s revised federal fuel-efficiency standards, a majority of voters agree with the president’s recommendation that the 2031 target for automobiles should be revised from 50 miles per gallon to 34 miles per gallon, a move that could reduce vehicle costs and protect auto-industry jobs. Americans agree with Trump’s recommendation to revise the fuel-efficiency target by 12 points, 48 percent to 36 percent.
Independents agree with the proposed new fuel-efficiency standards by nine points, 44 percent to 35 percent. While Democrats oppose the revised fuel-efficiency standards by 33 points, 59 percent to 26 percent, a quarter of Democrats agree with the president’s revised fual-efficiency standards. Republicans agree with the revised fuel-efficiency standards by 60 points, 74 percent to 14 percent.
While President Trump’s approval rating has been underwater due to perceptions about the economy, several of the Administration’s recent proposals are growing in popularity, including among swing voters. President Trump’s proposal to use a portion of tariff-revenue to reimburse Americans, pay down the national debt, and offer tax cuts to families is extremely popular, as is the president’s pause of visa and citizen applications from a list of unfriendly nations. In addition, Americans largely agree with the Administration’s recommendation for revised fuel-efficiency standards that could lower the cost of vehicles and protect auto industry jobs.
Manzanita Miller is the senior political analyst at Americans for Limited Government Foundation.
