More than half of Americans are optimistic about President-elect Donald Trump’s second term, but some of them worry how his plans will affect their family.
A poll from Monmouth University found that 53% of the public feels optimistic about the policies Mr. Trump has said he will pursue. While these numbers are similar to a poll taken ahead of the start of his first term in 2017, the support from his base has increased. While 53% of Republicans said they were very optimistic about his plans in 2017, 76% say the same now.
“Republicans are even more enthusiastic about a second Trump term than they were the first time around. They are particularly looking forward to him following through on the plans he promised,” said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute.
Some 66% of the public supports Mr. Trump’s policy idea of no taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security. Just under half, 49%, support mass deportations of illegal immigrants. Americans are split, 42% to 40%, about putting tariffs on goods from other countries.
The public feels less supportive of getting rid of diversity and equity programs in the federal government, with 36% favoring getting rid of the programs and 45% opposing the plan to drop them. Nearly half of Americans, 46%, oppose cutting corporate tax rates, while 32% are in favor.
“It should come as no surprise there is a stark partisan divide on the Trump agenda. The real question is how these policies will affect American families, especially among those who voted for Trump in 2024,” Mr. Murray said.
The two proposals that Americans think will affect them the most are tariffs on imported goods, 72%, and ending taxes on certain types of income, 64%.
Almost half of Americans, 48%, think their family will be helped by cutting taxes on certain income, while 15% say they will feel it negatively.
However, nearly half, 47%, think they will be hurt if Mr. Trump implements tariffs on foreign goods. Mr. Trump has said he wants to implement tariffs on goods from China, Canada and Mexico.
Some 36% believe the middle class will benefit a lot from Mr. Trump’s policy ideas, while 30% think they will benefit a little. However most Democrats, 76%, and almost half of independents, 46%, think that poor families will not benefit at all.
Some 79% of Democrats and 61% of independents say wealthy people will benefit from Mr. Trump’s policies, while less than half of Republicans, 45%, think the same.
The poll was conducted from Dec. 5-10 with 1,006 adults. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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