WASHINGTON (AP) — Upon taking office for his second term on Monday, Donald Trump will begin implementing an extensive agenda. However, a recent poll reveals that despite his assertion of having an “unprecedented and powerful mandate,” the incoming Republican president lacks widespread support for some of his key priorities. While just over half of US adults are in favor of eliminating taxes on earnings from tips, other pledges such as withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement, expanding oil drilling on federal lands, and imposing new tariffs are not as widely favored.
Opinions on many of the proposed actions could change, as a significant portion of Americans remain neutral. Nonetheless, some proposals are distinctly unpopular. For example, a majority of U.S. adults oppose pardoning most individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, indicating that this particular action, which Trump has vowed to swiftly carry out, will not be well-received by many Americans.
Here is the public sentiment regarding some of the major actions promised by Trump, some of which may begin to take effect as early as Monday:
– Mass deportations divide US adults, but most support deporting immigrants convicted of violent crimes: While Trump has pledged to initiate the largest deportation program in U.S. history during his second term, sentiments are mixed on mass deportations. The poll reveals that targeted deportations of immigrants with violent crime convictions, even those in the country legally, are favored. However, the support does not extend to mass deportations.
– Nearly half of US adults oppose tariffs on all foreign goods: Trump’s proposal to impose tariffs on imported goods to address high food prices and illegal immigration faces opposition from about half of US adults. While approximately 3 in 10 are in favor of this import tax, a quarter remain neutral, suggesting that opinions may shift if tariffs are enforced.
– Republicans are more inclined to support broad tariffs, but a notable portion are either against or undecided. Roughly 40% of Republicans oppose or are unsure about imposing tariffs on all goods entering the U.S.
– Only about 20% of US adults support pardoning most participants of the January 6 events: Trump’s promise to pardon many individuals charged in connection to the January 6 events receives minimal public support.
Following the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, President Trump hinted at a swift decision on potential pardons for the participants during an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” in December. While there have been suggestions from his supporters to use his clemency power on behalf of all the rioters, pardoning many of them would be an unpopular move. According to an AP-NORC poll, only about 2 in 10 U.S. adults “somewhat” or “strongly” favor such pardons, with a much larger share of about 6 in 10 opposing the move, including half who are strongly against it. Members of Trump’s own party have mixed opinions on the pardons, with about 4 in 10 Republicans supporting the idea, 3 in 10 neutral, and 3 in 10 opposed.
Eliminating taxes on tips has gained popularity, especially among young adults. Both Trump and his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, supported a pledge to exclude workers’ tips from federal taxes during their campaigns. This promise has garnered one of the highest levels of support from Americans, with just over half “somewhat” or “strongly” favoring the idea, one-quarter neutral, and about 2 in 10 opposed. The proposal is more favored by Republicans than Democrats and holds high support among adults under age 30.
There is a split among U.S. adults on whether to increase oil drilling on federal lands, a key part of Trump’s plan for American energy dominance. The AP-NORC poll showed about one-third in favor of increasing drilling, 4 in 10 opposed, and a quarter neutral. While Republicans largely support the idea, Democrats and independents are not as enthusiastic.
Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement during his first term has sparked mixed reactions. Approximately half of Americans oppose the action, including a notable portion of Republicans. Only about 2 in 10 adults support the withdrawal, while a quarter remain neutral. Democrats largely oppose the move, but Republicans also show some ambivalence, with slightly less than half in favor and about 3 in 10 opposed.
Recent opposition outweighs support for eliminating federal protections for transgender students. A judge’s ruling against a rule expanding LGBTQ+ student protections from the Biden administration, which Trump aimed to end, has revealed higher levels of opposition to stripping protections under Title IX.
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