After returning to the White Home for a second time period, President Donald Trump has moved boldly to implement his imaginative and prescient for America, with an Epoch Instances ballot displaying overwhelming assist for his actions throughout his first 30 days in workplace.
From cracking down on unlawful immigration to dismantling variety, fairness, and inclusion (DEI) throughout the federal authorities, Trump has enacted sweeping modifications by a collection of govt orders which have dramatically altered federal coverage. Some initiatives have already yielded outcomes, comparable to billions of {dollars} in authorities spending cuts and a pointy decline in unlawful border crossings.
The Epoch Instances survey, with responses from greater than 30,000 readers, signifies robust assist for Trump’s early insurance policies, significantly in border safety, countering transgender ideology in faculties, and deploying the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) to streamline federal operations and save taxpayer {dollars}.
Nevertheless, sure proposals—comparable to eliminating the Federal Emergency Administration Company (FEMA), imposing tariffs on Canada and Mexico, and searching for to accumulate Greenland from Denmark—generated extra opposition.
Topline Ballot Outcomes
In its first 30 days, the Trump administration obtained 92 p.c approval, with 87 p.c strongly endorsing its efficiency.
Disapproval remained low at 8 p.c, with solely 7 p.c expressing robust objections.
Approval for Trump’s efficiency—each total and in particular coverage areas—was highest amongst respondents aged 55–64, with 90 p.c expressing robust assist and one other 4 p.c considerably approving of the general job the administration has carried out in its first month on the helm of presidency.
The general pattern signifies sturdy approval of Trump’s first month because the forty seventh president, regardless of lawsuits difficult his actions and fierce resistance from Democrats who say he’s bypassing Congress. His harshest critics have gone so far as saying that his govt selections may set off a constitutional disaster.
Curbing Unlawful Immigration
The administration’s efforts to strengthen border safety obtained the very best ranges of approval.
The overwhelming majority—92 p.c—strongly assist the administration’s border safety measures, with one other 3 p.c considerably approving. Solely 4 p.c disapprove, together with 2 p.c who considerably disapprove.
Immigration and border management have been high voter priorities within the 2024 election, rivaled solely by financial considerations together with inflation and affordability. Pre-election polls highlighted widespread concern over record-high unlawful border crossings and inflation peaking at 9 p.c below former President Joe Biden.
On his first day in workplace, Trump signed 10 govt orders and proclamations addressing border safety and the deportation of unlawful immigrants. He ended “catch and launch,” shut down the CBP One app used for parole exceptions, and pressured Mexico by the specter of tariffs into deploying 10,000 troops to curb drug trafficking and tighten enforcement of immigration controls.
The administration’s deportation insurance policies additionally obtained robust assist. Eighty-six p.c strongly authorised—and eight p.c considerably supported—eradicating people with out authorized standing from the US. Solely 5 p.c disapproved.
Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, mentioned not too long ago that Border Patrol agent apprehensions of unlawful border crossers had fallen beneath 300 from greater than 11,000 on the top of the disaster below the Biden administration.
“I began as a Border Patrol Agent in 1984, and I don’t keep in mind the numbers ever being that low,” Homan mentioned on Feb. 17.
Transgender Ideology and DEI
Trump’s actions to take away transgender ideology from Ok–12 faculties obtained overwhelming approval. Ninety-four p.c approve, with solely 5 p.c disapproving, whereas impartial opinions have been negligible.
Efforts to get rid of DEI insurance policies additionally discovered robust backing. Ninety p.c of respondents strongly approve of dismantling DEI applications, with 2 p.c considerably approving. Disapproval was minimal at 7 p.c.
Overseas Support, USAID, and WHO
Trump’s plan to overtake the U.S. Company for Worldwide Improvement (USAID) and pause international assist obtained robust approval.
Moreover, Trump’s orders to withdraw the US from the World Well being Group (WHO) and the Paris Local weather Accord obtained widespread backing. Eighty-five p.c strongly approve, whereas 5 p.c considerably approve. Disapproval stood at 8 p.c.
Trump mentioned the local weather accord imposed unfair restrictions on the US whereas permitting different nations to proceed unrestricted regardless of their excessive emissions. His administration estimated that leaving the accord would save the US $1 trillion.
Authorities Downsizing and DOGE
Led by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, DOGE has performed a vital function in Trump’s mission to chop federal spending and cut back authorities waste.
Eighty-eight p.c of respondents strongly assist DOGE’s work, with 4 p.c considerably approving. Disapproval remained low at 7 p.c.
Trump has mentioned DOGE has already discovered “billions and billions of {dollars} in waste, fraud, and abuse,” whereas Musk has said that discount of federal bills as “important for America to stay solvent as a rustic.”
Amongst DOGE’s cost-cutting measures is the elimination of government-paid media subscriptions to shops together with The New York Instances and Politico; this effort obtained 92 p.c approval from respondents, whereas solely 4 p.c have been opposed.
Vitality, Setting
Trump’s deal with boosting home vitality manufacturing has been extensively endorsed.
Ninety-two p.c approve or strongly approve of Trump’s numerous actions to broaden home vitality manufacturing, specifically oil and fuel drilling, with solely 6 p.c disapproving.
Help for rolling again subsidies for electrical automobiles and renewable vitality applications stood at 76 p.c, with 12 p.c considerably approving. Six p.c disapproved, whereas one other 6 p.c have been impartial.
In the meantime, eliminating environmental rules garnered 88 p.c assist, together with 17 p.c lukewarm endorsement. Disapproval was at 9 p.c, suggesting a barely extra contentious stance on environmental deregulation.
China, Greenland, and Extra
The Trump administration’s early strikes on the worldwide stage usually had stable backing.
Trump’s hard-line stance on China noticed overwhelming assist, with 83 p.c strongly approving of efforts to counter Beijing’s international affect, and 10 p.c saying they considerably agree. Solely 3 p.c expressed disapproval.
Moreover imposing 10 p.c tariffs on China, the Trump administration additionally threatened to impose 25 p.c duties on all imports from Canada and Mexico, though the latter have been placed on maintain after the 2 international locations agreed to take steps to bolster border safety.
Approval for tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico had the robust assist of 61 p.c of Epoch Instances readers, with 21 p.c saying they assist it to a lesser diploma. Total disapproval stood at 9 p.c.
The president’s push to renegotiate NATO funding and reevaluate U.S. assist to Ukraine had robust backing, with 90 p.c approving or strongly approving, and simply 8 p.c disapproving.
Trump has criticized NATO members for not assembly their 2 p.c protection spending targets, and not too long ago proposed the next 5 p.c purpose as an alternative. He has additionally vowed to finish the Ukraine battle and argued Europe ought to tackle extra monetary duty for serving to Kyiv counter Russia’s invasion and for offering safety ensures as soon as a peace deal is lastly reached.
One other of Trump’s concepts is to doubtlessly reclaim management of the Panama Canal. There was some hesitation towards this proposal amongst respondents, with 84 p.c approving and eight p.c disapproving, and eight p.c impartial.
The least common international coverage transfer was Trump’s thought to purchase Greenland, which drew solely 34 p.c robust approval, 28 p.c gentle approval. Twenty-five p.c have been impartial and 13 p.c disapproved—making it essentially the most divisive proposal within the survey.
Write-In Responses
The write-in responses overwhelmingly emphasize authorities spending and debt discount, adopted intently by border safety, tax reform, and federal authorities reform.
A major variety of respondents demand aggressive spending cuts, a balanced price range, and lowered authorities intervention within the economic system. Many advocate for the abolition of sure federal businesses, reflecting a broader frustration with authorities inefficiency.
Border safety and immigration enforcement rank because the second most talked about situation, with robust requires mass deportations, stricter asylum insurance policies, and an finish to sanctuary cities.
Tax reform is one other main concern, with respondents favoring decrease taxes and a simplified tax code. Many additionally assist eliminating or drastically restructuring the Inside Income Service (IRS).
Inflation, financial progress, and job creation are main considerations, with assist for deregulation and pro-business insurance policies. Social Safety, well being care affordability, and fraud in authorities additionally draw robust reactions, alongside calls for for accountability and prosecutions.
Election integrity stays an essential situation, with assist for stricter voter ID legal guidelines and audits. Respondents additionally regularly point out vitality independence, army energy, and a harder stance on China. Many advocate for time period limits and judicial independence.
The general sentiment confirmed respondents need aggressive spending cuts, border safety, decrease taxes, much less forms, and stronger financial progress with higher authorities accountability.