1/2
FEBRUARY HARVARD CAPS / HARRIS POLL: 58% OF VOTERS ARE MORE SATISFIED WITH TRUMP'S JOB AS PRESIDENT THAN BIDEN
February 24, 2025, 8:00 AM ET
DEMOCRATIC PARTY APPROVAL HITS A RECORD LOW AT 36%, NOW 15 POINTS LOWER THAN THE GOP
72% OF VOTERS SUPPORT THE EXISTENCE OF A U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY FOCUSED ON EFFICIENCY INITIATIVES
==VOTERS WANT UKRAINE TO NEGOTIATE A SETTLEMENT WITH RUSSIA, BUT MOST ARE OPPOSED TO TERRITORIAL CONCESSIONS AND WANT THE U.S. TO GIVE SECURITY GUARANTEES=
NEW YORK and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) today released the results of the February Harvard CAPS / Harris poll, a monthly collaboration between the Center for American Political Studies at Harvard (CAPS) and the Harris Poll and HarrisX.
In his first month in office, President Donald Trump’s approval rating is at 52%, with voters most satisfied with his job on immigration, reducing the cost of the government, and returning America to its values. The majority of voters support Trump’s policies on the border, focus on government expenditures, gender, DEI, and offshore drilling but have concerns on his foreign policies involving tariffs, the Israel-Hamas war, and the war in Ukraine. Download key results here.
• “People are taking a generally positive wait-and-see attitude for Trump but have really reassessed their attitudes toward Biden, Harris, and the Democrats, taking a much harsher, more negative attitude,” said Mark Penn, Co-Director of the Harvard CAPS / Harris poll and Stagwell Chairman and CEO. “Trump has a real opportunity here – we’re seeing a healthy, trudging approval edging toward real approval based on how the next couple of months turn out.”
VOTERS FEELING MORE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT DIRECTION OF COUNTRY AND ECONOMY
• 42% of voters say the country is on the right track, up 14 points from January 2025 (Democrats: 21% (-9); Republicans: 71% (+37); Independents: 31% (+12)).
• 31% of voters say their personal financial situation is improving (+5), particularly among Republican, male, Black, and urban voters.
• Inflation and immigration remain the top two issues for voters, with a 6-point increase in concern over corruption.
TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICANS START SECOND TERM WITH NET FAVORABLE RATINGS
• Donald Trump’s favorability stands at 50%, with a net favorable of +7 points.
• More voters have a favorable rather than unfavorable view of key cabinet members such Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (+9), J.D. Vance (+4), and Tulsi Gabbard (+3).
• Voters are split on Elon Musk and Mike Johnson.
The Democratic Party received its lowest approval rating since at least March 2018, with 33% of • Democrats, 86% Republicans, and 70% Independents disapproving. 49% of voters approve of the Republican Party (+1). 36% of voters approve of Congress (+5).
TRUMP POLICIES RECEIVE MAJORITY SUPPORT BUT FACE CONCERN OVER INFLATION AND DIVISIVENESS
• All of Trump’s key policies received majority support except for renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, with deportation of illegal immigrants who have committed crimes (81%), eliminating fraud and waste in government expenditures (76%), and closing the border (76%) as the top three most supported policies.
• 55% of voters support birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants, with 63% believing it is a requirement in the U.S. constitution, breaking with Trump on the issue.
•70% of voters believe the government should make hiring decisions based on merit and objective evaluation rather than to achieve diversity. 51% of voters say Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion departments are needed in government.
• 40% of voters say Trump’s policies will make them financially better off, while 36% believe Trump’s policies will make them worse off. 46% of voters say Trump’s policies will increase inflation.
54% of voters are worried that Trump’s actions will divide the country (Democrats: 82%; Republicans: 20%; Independents: 61%).
https://harvardharrispoll.com/press-release-february-2025/