As President Donald Trump prepares to deliver his first address to Congress of his second term on March 4, Americans remain deeply divided on key issues, from the economy to immigration and foreign policy. Recent Pew Research Center surveys highlight shifting public opinion as the administration moves swiftly to implement its agenda.
Economic concerns remain high
Economic issues top the list of national concerns, with just 24% of Americans describing the economy as excellent or good. A majority view it as only fair (45%) or poor (31%). While overall evaluations remain steady, Republicans have grown more optimistic since Trump returned to office, while Democrats have become more pessimistic.
Inflation, health care affordability, and the federal budget deficit rank among the most pressing concerns. Two-thirds of Americans (66%) see health care costs as a major issue, up 10 percentage points from last year. Meanwhile, 63% cite inflation as a very big problem, and 57% say the same about the deficit.
When looking ahead, partisanship strongly shapes economic outlooks: 73% of Republicans believe conditions will improve in the next year, while 64% of Democrats expect them to worsen.
Immigration policies draw sharp partisan divide
Immigration remains one of the most polarizing issues. Trump’s early executive actions included declaring a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border and increasing deportations. A majority of Americans support deportation efforts (59%) and deploying more military personnel to the border (58%). However, opinions split along party lines, with 86% of Republicans favoring increased deportations compared to just 33% of Democrats.
A majority of Americans (56%) disapprove of Trump’s executive order redefining birthright citizenship, which states that only children of U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents are automatically granted citizenship. Once again, partisan views diverge: 72% of Republicans approve, while 84% of Democrats oppose the move.
Shifting views on Ukraine and NATO
Foreign policy remains another area of division. Amid ongoing U.S. aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia, 30% of Americans believe the U.S. is providing too much support, with Republicans (47%) significantly more likely than Democrats (14%) to hold this view.
Attitudes toward NATO have also shifted. Fewer than half of Republicans (47%) believe U.S. membership in the alliance benefits the country, the lowest level recorded since 2021. By contrast, 82% of Democrats say NATO membership remains beneficial.
Federal workforce and government efficiency debated
Trump’s efforts to reduce the federal workforce have brought renewed scrutiny to government operations. Overall, 55% of Americans trust federal career employees to act in the public’s best interests. However, only 38% of Republicans share this view, compared to 72% of Democrats.
A majority of Americans (56%) continue to view government as wasteful and inefficient, though 42% argue it performs better than it is given credit for.
Growing support for transgender restrictions
Trump’s administration has issued orders banning transgender women from competing in women’s sports and cutting federal funding for gender-transition care for minors. Public support for such measures has grown:
- 66% of Americans favor requiring trans athletes to compete based on sex assigned at birth (up 8 points since 2022).
- 56% support banning gender-transition care for minors (up 10 points).
At the same time, 56% back policies protecting transgender individuals from discrimination in jobs and housing—though this figure has dropped 8 points since 2022.
Climate change remains a partisan issue
Climate change is a major concern for Democrats but ranks low among Republican priorities. Two-thirds of Democrats view it as a pressing issue, compared to just 13% of Republicans. While Democrats prioritize environmental protections for future generations, Republicans focus more on minimizing consumer costs.
As Trump addresses Congress, his policies on these deeply divisive issues will continue to shape national debate, with stark partisan differences defining the political landscape.
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