Americans Trust Republicans Over Democrats To Handle Crime, Immigration, Inflation, Taxes, Foreign Policy And More

By Manzanita Miller

Americans elected President Donald Trump in a landslide in 2024, giving the president the chance to implement his sweeping America First agenda which includes lower taxes, a secure border, a slate of strategies to combat inflation including levying tariffs on trade partners, and a commitment to reducing crime and making the country safer.

Next November, voters will head to the polls to reinstall a new legislative body in Congress, and as Democrats spar over how to reframe their party after their loss in 2024, conservatives are tallying up where they have the support of the public.

New polling shows that when it comes to handling most hot-button political issues, voters trust Republicans over Democrats to handle the majority of them. Democrats lead on only a few issues — and mostly on issues which rank lower in importance to voters like LGBTQ issues and democracy.

A detailed YouGov survey of 1,148 adults conducted May 16-19 finds that Americans trust the Republican Party on a majority of frequently cited issues of importance, from immigration and inflation to taxes, crime, foreign policy, the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and even fighting corruption. However, Democrats lead on healthcare, the environment, democracy, and LGBTQ issues.  

Republicans hold a wide lead on crime, leading Democrats by eleven points — 39 percent to 28 percent. Independents trust the GOP over Democrats to handle crime by nearly a two-to-one margin, 29 percent to 15 percent. Hispanics trust the GOP over Democrats to handle crime by eight points, 32 percent to 24 percent. Given the Democratic party’s frequent alignment with radical activists creating mayhem in cities across the country, it is not surprising the public generally mistrusts Democrats on crime.  

Republicans also hold a strong lead over Democrats on immigration, with voters saying they trust Republicans by seven points on immigration, 41 percent to 34 percent. Republicans hold an eight-point lead — 32 percent to 24 percent — on immigration among independents and are tied with Democrats among Hispanics. Interestingly, even 13 percent of Kamala Harris voters say they trust the GOP to handle immigration more than Democrats.  

A majority of the American people also back deportation of illegal aliens, say deportation makes the country safer, oppose abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and favor increased funding for the border and immigration enforcement. Democrats have lost the public with their open borders agenda and vilification of law enforcement.

Americans trust Republicans over Democrats more on taxes by three points, 36 percent to 33 percent, and independents trust the GOP more on taxes by four points, 27 percent to 23 percent. Hispanics trust Republicans more on taxes by four points as well, 27 percent to 23 percent, and eight percent of Harris voters trust the GOP more on taxes.

Republicans hold a four-point lead on foreign policy, 37 percent to 33 percent, and hold even stronger leads on handling specific foreign conflicts. On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Republicans hold a five point lead, 34 percent to 29 percent, and on the Israeli-Palestinian  conflict, Republicans hold a nine point lead, 32 percent to 23 percent.   

Republicans hold a narrow one-point lead on tackling inflation, 35 percent to 34 percent, and lead Democrats on how to handle corruption by four points, 32 percent to 28 percent. 

On a majority of the policy issues that are likely to play a role in the way Americans vote in the midterms, Republicans are in the lead. Democrats lead on less highly ranked issues, such as Democracy and LGBTQ issues. Democrats also lead on healthcare and the environment, issues that rank relatively high to voters, although they rank lower than economic issues and the border.     

With Democrats leading the generic Congressional ballot by 2.4 percentage points, the midterm election could end up being an extremely close race, not nessearily a reenactment of the 2018 blue wave Democrats hope to repeat.

Although Republicans are in the lead on a majority of the issues voters prioritize, a large share of the country is undecided on which party to trust. This presents opportunities for Republicans to continue earning the trust of the American people in the months to come. With the Democratic party being viewed as weak, ineffective, and lacking leadership, conservatives have a strong opportunity to present their alternatives and attract swing voters.

The latest YouGov survey conducted June 6-9 shows healthcare is the third most important issue to voters, coming in right behind inflation and jobs. Climate change and the environment is seventh on the list of 15 issues, but higher than civil liberties, abortion, foreign policy, education, guns, and criminal justice reform. Generally, concern about the environment becomes a higher priority to voters when other important metrics – like inflation and the border – are under control. If President Trump is able to address these issues successfully, voters may begin to voice their desire to tackle next-level national issues like healthcare reform and environmental protections.

Manzanita Miller is the senior political analyst at Americans for Limited Government Foundation.