As President Donald Trump embarked on his second term, he wasted no time in pushing forward his pivotal campaign promises, notably his pledge to clamp down on immigration and reinstall "energy supremacy." During his inaugural Oval Office address for this term, he granted blanket pardons to those indicted in the January 6th Capitol riot and declared a "national emergency" along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Some of these opening gambits are poised to resonate well with the populace. According to a survey conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, a significant majority of Americans consider enhancing security at the U.S.-Mexico border at least a "moderate priority" for the federal government, with nearly half deeming it a top priority.
However, not all of his vows have garnered widespread approval. His decisions to withdraw from the Paris climate accord, escalate oil drilling on federal lands, and abolish birthright citizenship have met with less enthusiasm. Notably, the poll revealed that pardoning the majority of those involved in the 2021 riot is particularly unpopular.
Here's a closer look at how Americans perceive some of Trump's pivotal pledges:
The American populace is divided on the issue of mass deportations, yet there is widespread support for deporting immigrants convicted of violent crimes. Executive orders previewed on Monday by an incoming White House official aim to bar asylum seekers, deploy troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, and terminate birthright citizenship.
The January poll unveiled that the deportation of immigrants convicted of crimes, even if they are legally present in the country, enjoys popularity. However, this sentiment does not extend to mass deportations. Approximately eight out of ten U.S. adults favor deporting all illegally present immigrants convicted of violent crimes, with two-thirds strongly in favor. Similarly, about seven out of ten support deporting legally present immigrants convicted of such crimes.
The proposition to deport undocumented immigrants without criminal convictions is far more contentious. Americans are slightly more inclined to oppose this policy than to support it, with only about four out of ten in favor.
The push to end birthright citizenship poses both legal challenges for Trump and lacks popularity. A January AP-NORC poll revealed that only about three out of ten Americans support amending the Constitution to deny automatic citizenship to children born in the U.S. to illegally present parents. A significant partisan divide exists, with roughly half of Republicans supporting the end of birthright citizenship compared to just one in ten Democrats.
Only about two out of ten Americans favor pardoning most participants in the January 6th riot. Trump announced pardons for around 1,500 defendants and commuted six sentences. According to the AP-NORC poll, only about two out of ten U.S. adults are in favor of pardoning most riot participants, while a larger proportion—about six out of ten—oppose it, including half who strongly disagree.
Republicans are deeply divided on the matter. Roughly four out of ten Republicans lean towards pardoning a significant portion of the January 6th rioters, whereas approximately three in ten stand firmly opposed. Half of the nation voices their dissent against pulling out of the Paris climate accord. Upon entering office, the new White House swiftly announced America's re-withdrawal from the Paris Agreement aimed at mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. According to polls, half of Americans "somewhat" or "strongly" oppose this decision, and even within the Republican ranks, support is not overwhelming. Merely two in ten US adults endorse withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, while a quarter remains neutral.
The opposition primarily stems from Democrats, yet Republicans also exhibit a degree of hesitancy. Slightly fewer than half of Republicans favor the withdrawal, while one in five opposes it. On a different note, Republicans advocate for federal employees' return to the office. One of Trump's initial executive orders mandated a five-day-a-week office presence for federal workers. This requirement enjoys broader appeal compared to some of Trump's other government efficiency proposals, such as eliminating a substantial number of federal jobs or dismantling entire agencies, as revealed by the poll.
Republican lawmakers have been pushing for more in-office days, and grassroots Republicans are more inclined than the general American populace to support a five-day office week. Individuals aged 45 and above are also more likely than younger adults to prefer a full return to the office for federal employees. Trump has vowed to reverse the Biden administration's push for electric vehicles, which was largely unpopular. About six in ten US adults opposed regulations mandating that electric vehicles (EVs) comprise at least half of all new cars and trucks sold in the US by 2032, according to a Pew Research Center poll last year. This opposition was particularly high among Republicans, with about eight in ten expressing dislike for the rule.
Moreover, EV purchases have not gained significant traction. An AP-NORC/EPIC poll from last summer suggested that many Americans were not convinced about switching to electric vehicles for their next car due to high prices and a scarcity of easily accessible charging stations. Trump's approach to energy production lacks broad support among US adults. He is expected to sign orders aimed at reducing regulatory hurdles for oil and natural gas production, vowing to establish American "energy dominance" by boosting drilling, including on federal lands.
However, Americans are uncertain about this plan. An AP-NORC poll found that one-third of Americans "somewhat" or "strongly" favor increasing oil drilling on federal lands, while four in ten oppose it. While increasing oil drilling is widely popular among Republicans, it is not favored by Democrats or independents. According to AP VoteCast, only four in ten voters in the 2024 presidential election believe that US energy policy should focus on expanding fossil fuel production like oil and gas. The majority, 55%, advocate for prioritizing the expansion of alternative energy sources such as solar and wind.
