A new NPR/PBS/Marist Poll prepared by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion on the campus of Marist College in Poughkeepsie shows that Americans are divided 49% to 49% about Donald Trump’s threatened mass deportations of immigrants, while 62% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s plan to pardon people who were convicted of crimes for the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol. Only 35% support Trump’s plan to issue pardons. The poll was conducted Jan. 7 through Jan. 9.
In looking back at the attack on the Capitol, the poll found that 59% of Americans, including 84% of Democrats and 61% of independents, believe the events of Jan. 6 were an insurrection meant to overthrow a free and fair election. The poll found that 38%, including 61% of Republicans, believe that what happened at the Capitol was patriots staging a protest to stop what they had been convinced was a stolen election.
The new poll also found that that 59% of Americans, up from 29% in February 2020, say the economy is not working well for them right now. Only 39% say the economy is working well for them. While 54% of Democrats believe the current economy benefits them, 73% of Republicans and 57% of independents say the economy is not working well.
Despite Trump’s touting of what he views as benefits from slapping tariffs on imported goods, 48% of Americans think placing tariffs or fees on products imported from other countries generally hurts the national economy versus 31% who believe it helps the U.S. economy.
A minority of Americans, 44%, including 63% of Republicans, think their family finances will improve in the upcoming year. This is an increase from 33% in December 2023 and is the highest proportion of Americans who are optimistic about their finances since this question was first asked in 2009. There were 22% who said they believe their financial situation will worsen next year and 34% said it will stay about the same.
The poll found that 44% of Americans have a favorable view of President-elect Trump, 49% have an unfavorable opinion of him and 7% were unsure.
When asked to assess Trump versus Biden, 47% thought Trump would be remembered as one of the nation’s worst presidents compared with 34% for Biden. Biden’s current job approval rating was 42%.
“It doesn’t look like it’s going to be exceptionally smooth sailing recorded in public opinion on the pillar parts of the Trump agenda,” Lee Miringoff, director of Marist Institute for Public Opinion, said. “The agenda that Trump has put forward and the mandate that he claims to have is going to be put through with a Washington government that is barely Republican but yet they have the trifecta (White House, House and Senate). To some degree he’s already trying to reset some of the expectations.”
