Trump is Popular and So Are Many of His Policies: Democrats Are Tanking

The latest Harvard CAPS / Harris poll shows that former President Donald Trump is starting his second term on a high note. With his approval rating at 52%, Trump seems to be gaining traction in a deeply divided political climate. And while Democrats struggle to keep their footing, public optimism under Trump's leadership appears to be on the rise.

According to the poll, 58% of Americans believe Trump is doing a better job than his predecessor, Joe Biden. Notably, nearly a quarter of Democrats agree—a striking statistic that signals a shift in sentiment across party lines.

Trump’s policy agenda seems to resonate with many Americans. A whopping 81% support deporting undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes, and 76% back efforts to crack down on government fraud and waste. Additionally, 70% view the federal budget as bloated with unnecessary spending, while 69% favor cutting expenditures over raising taxes. Trump’s push to trim $1 trillion from the federal budget has clearly struck a chord.

Another popular proposal is the creation of a government department solely focused on eliminating waste, which has garnered support from 72% of respondents. However, concerns linger about data privacy—voters are wary of entities like Elon Musk's DOGE accessing sensitive information. And let’s not even get started on the controversial "Gulf of America" renaming idea; that’s a hard pass for most.

Meanwhile, the Democrats are in freefall. Their favorability rating has plunged to a dismal 36%, the lowest in recorded memory. If midterm elections were held today, the party would likely suffer devastating losses. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's attempts to rally the base haven’t helped either—his approval rating is underwater by 14 points. In this climate, many Americans are left questioning how they ended up with a Biden presidency that seemed, to them, more chaotic than constructive.

The writing on the wall is clear: voters overwhelmingly support Trump’s priorities—securing the border, slashing government waste, and prioritizing merit over identity politics. Democrats, on the other hand, are struggling to find a coherent strategy. Scream at Elon Musk all they want, but that’s not going to win over voters. Perhaps they should take a page from Bill Clinton’s playbook, who leaned into bipartisan issues like welfare reform and balanced budgets to climb back into favor. But let’s face it—that kind of pivot doesn’t seem likely anytime soon.

Trump, for his part, appears to be learning from past missteps. Unlike his first term, which was marred by resistance and endless investigations, his second term is marked by swift and decisive action. With a team reportedly aligned to carry out his vision this time around, Trump is charging ahead with bold policy changes that seem to have the backing of most Americans.

While it’s too early to say whether these approval ratings will hold, the message is clear: the American public sees Trump moving the country in a direction they prefer—and they’re not looking back at the Biden years with much nostalgia.