Economist/YouGov Poll Analyzes Attitudes Towards Trump Administration and Policies
TL/DR –
The Economist/YouGov poll found that public opinion of Donald Trump’s administration is largely negative, with his net favorability and job approval ratings decreasing. Additionally, the majority of Americans oppose many of Trump’s policy proposals, such as prosecuting critics, revoking laws lowering prescription drug costs, and requiring federal agencies to interpret laws based on the president’s views. Furthermore, a majority of Americans believe that Trump’s efforts to reduce budgets and staff in federal agencies have gone too far.
This week’s Economist/YouGov poll covers varied aspects of the Trump administration figures, policy proposals, budget cuts, U.S. democracy, and Trump’s global stance.
Trump’s administration and policies
- Trump’s favorability and job approval have fallen since his term’s beginning. Net favorability and approval are computed by subtracting negative opinion percentages from positive ones.
- The public has mixed views on Trump administration members. Presidential advisor Elon Musk and Vice President JD Vance are viewed more negatively than positively.
- Karoline Leavitt and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi are the only members of Trump’s administration with net favorable ratings.
- 63% Americans believe Musk greatly influences the Trump administration, but only 16% want him to.
- Musk’s perceived influence within the Trump administration has grown in recent weeks, from 51% to 63%.
- Net favorability of Republican leaders Mike Johnson and John Thune is more negative than Trump and his administration members.
- Democrats have a more negative view of Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer. Democratic House Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries has a slightly higher rating.
- Opinions on Trump’s policy agenda are largely negative. Of 83 policies, 50 are opposed by more Americans than those supporting them. More details on this are available in this article and in our own policy polling.
DOGE and government funding
- 42% of Americans believe Trump administration’s efforts to reduce federal agencies’ budgets and staff have gone too far. Opinions differ along party lines.
- Public opinion is divided on whether funding for 20 federal agencies and departments should be expanded, maintained, reduced, or eliminated.
The state of U.S. democracy
- Around half of Americans believe that Trump aspires to be the U.S. king, following his recent social media post with the caption “LONG LIVE THE KING!”. More details on this are available here.
- More Americans are dissatisfied with how democracy functions in the U.S. than those who are satisfied. Democrats are more dissatisfied with democracy’s state than they were just after the election.
International relations
- Most Americans side with Ukraine in the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine negotiations; only a small fraction sympathize more with Russia.
- Hardly any Americans agree with Trump’s claim that Ukraine initiated the conflict against Russia. More details on this can be found here.
This report may contain minor rounding discrepancies.
Contributor: Carl Bialik
For toplines and crosstabs of the February 23 – 25, 2025 Economist/YouGov Poll, see here and here.
Methodology: The poll was conducted among 1,604 U.S. adult citizens. Respondents were selected from YouGov’s opt-in panel to be representative of U.S. adult citizens. Sampling and weighting procedures were implemented. The margin of error for the overall sample is approximately 3.5%.
Image: Getty (Chip Somodevilla / Staff)
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