Red Mosquito

FEBRUARY HARVARD CAPS / HARRIS POLL: 58% OF VOTERS ARE MORE SATISFIED WITH TRUMP'S JOB AS PRESIDENT THAN BIDEN
News Provided By:
Stagwell Inc.
Published Date

February 24, 2024, 8:00 AM ET



DEMOCRATIC PARTY APPROVAL HITS A RECORD LOW AT 36%, NOW 15 POINTS LOWER THAN THE GOP

72% OF VOTERS SUPPORT THE EXISTENCE OF A U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY FOCUSED ON EFFICIENCY INITIATIVES

VOTERS WANT UKRAINE TO NEGOTIATE A SETTLEMENT WITH RUSSIA, BUT MOST ARE OPPOSED TO TERRITORIAL CONCESSIONS AND WANT THE U.S. TO GIVE SECURITY GUARANTEES

NEW YORK and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) today released the results of the February Harvard CAPS / Harris poll, a monthly collaboration between the Center for American Political Studies at Harvard (CAPS) and the Harris Poll and HarrisX.

In his first month in office, President Donald Trump’s approval rating is at 52%, with voters most satisfied with his job on immigration, reducing the cost of the government, and returning America to its values. The majority of voters support Trump’s policies on the border, focus on government expenditures, gender, DEI, and offshore drilling but have concerns on his foreign policies involving tariffs, the Israel-Hamas war, and the war in Ukraine. Download key results here.

“People are taking a generally positive wait-and-see attitude for Trump but have really reassessed their attitudes toward Biden, Harris, and the Democrats, taking a much harsher, more negative attitude,” said Mark Penn, Co-Director of the Harvard CAPS / Harris poll and Stagwell Chairman and CEO. “Trump has a real opportunity here – we’re seeing a healthy, trudging approval edging toward real approval based on how the next couple of months turn out.”

VOTERS FEELING MORE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT DIRECTION OF COUNTRY AND ECONOMY

42% of voters say the country is on the right track, up 14 points from January 2025 (Democrats: 21% (-9); Republicans: 71% (+37); Independents: 31% (+12)).
31% of voters say their personal financial situation is improving (+5), particularly among Republican, male, Black, and urban voters.
Inflation and immigration remain the top two issues for voters, with a 6-point increase in concern over corruption.

TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICANS START SECOND TERM WITH NET FAVORABLE RATINGS

Donald Trump’s favorability stands at 50%, with a net favorable of +7 points.
More voters have a favorable rather than unfavorable view of key cabinet members such Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (+9), J.D. Vance (+4), and Tulsi Gabbard (+3).
Voters are split on Elon Musk and Mike Johnson.
The Democratic Party received its lowest approval rating since at least March 2018, with 33% of Democrats, 86% Republicans, and 70% Independents disapproving. 49% of voters approve of the Republican Party (+1). 36% of voters approve of Congress (+5).

TRUMP POLICIES RECEIVE MAJORITY SUPPORT BUT FACE CONCERN OVER INFLATION AND DIVISIVENESS

All of Trump’s key policies received majority support except for renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, with deportation of illegal immigrants who have committed crimes (81%), eliminating fraud and waste in government expenditures (76%), and closing the border (76%) as the top three most supported policies.
55% of voters support birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants, with 63% believing it is a requirement in the U.S. constitution, breaking with Trump on the issue.
70% of voters believe the government should make hiring decisions based on merit and objective evaluation rather than to achieve diversity. 51% of voters say Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion departments are needed in government.
40% of voters say Trump’s policies will make them financially better off, while 36% believe Trump’s policies will make them worse off. 46% of voters say Trump’s policies will increase inflation.
54% of voters are worried that Trump’s actions will divide the country (Democrats: 82%; Republicans: 20%; Independents: 61%).

VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT CUTTING DOWN GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES BUT ARE SENSITIVE AROUND DATA PRIVACY

67% of voters say the current level of U.S. federal government debt is unsustainable.
83% of voters favor reducing government expenditures over increasing taxes, and 77% say a full examination of all government expenditures is necessary.
70% of voters say government expenditures are filled with waste, fraud, and inefficiency (Democrats: 58%; Republicans: 78%; Independents: 75%), and 69% support the goal of cutting $1 trillion of government expenditures.
60% of voters think DOGE is helping make major cuts in government expenditures.
58% of voters say DOGE employees should not have access to sensitive information on Americans who benefit from government expenditure programs; including names, social security numbers, addresses, and incomes (Democrats: 75%; Republicans: 39%; Independents: 63%).

TARIFFS SEE MAJORITY SUPPORT BUT VOTERS SPLIT OVER CONCERN ON WHETHER THEY WILL HARM OR HELP

57% of voters say tariffs are an effective foreign and economic policy tool. The plurality of voters (44%) believe tariffs on imported goods will increase U.S. government revenue.
62% of voters believe tariffs will raise prices of everyday goods (Democrats: 75%; Republicans: 50%; Independents: 62%).
54% of voters say tariffs will help the Trump administration get concessions from other countries, but 49% of voters say the recent tariffs on Mexican, Canadian, and Chinese imports will harm rather than help, and 46% of voters say his tariffs on steel and aluminum imports will do harm.
61% of voters support reciprocal tariffs, with voters split on whether they will harm or help. 53% of voters believe reciprocal tariffs will cause other countries to lower their tariffs on U.S. goods.

THE MAJORITY OF VOTERS SUPPORT ENDING THE WAR IN UKRAINE, BUT OPPOSE LEAVING OUT UKRAINE AND EUROPEAN LEADERS FROM NEGOTIATIONS

72% of voters say they want Ukraine to negotiate a settlement with Russia instead of winning the war. 60% of voters favor Trump announcing direct U.S.-Russia negotiations (Democrats: 40%; Republicans: 85%; Independents: 53%).
59% of voters oppose the Trump administration leaving Ukraine’s leaders out of negotiations with Russia. 55% of voters oppose the exclusion of European leaders.
57% of voters oppose the Trump administration forcing Ukraine to make territorial concessions to end the war, and 66% of voters say Ukraine should receive security guarantees from the U.S. if it were to make concessions.
61% of voters say security guarantees should be contingent on Ukraine sharing revenue from rare earth elements to pay back U.S. military support.
63% of voters believe Russia will continue to advance onto other countries if it successfully claims Ukrainian territory.

VOTERS SPLIT ON WHETHER TRUMP WAS SERIOUS ABOUT THE U.S. TAKING OVER GAZA, BELIEVE IT IS A BAD IDEA

54% of voters support Trump’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict thus far.
67% of voters have heard of Trump’s proposal that the U.S. should take over Gaza to redevelop it. 47% of voters believe Trump was being serious, and 53% believe he was posturing to start negotiations.
70% of voters believe the U.S. taking over Gaza is a bad idea. 56% of voters oppose removing Palestinians from Gaza to rebuild the territory.
Support for Israel over Hamas in the conflict remains high, with 77% of voters supporting Israel.
76% of voters say Iran’s nuclear weapons facilities should be destroyed. 57% of voters say the U.S. should support Israel in airstrikes on such facilities (Democrats: 45%; Republicans: 74%; Independents: 51%).

dimejinky99 wrote:

Dev wrote:

dimejinky99 wrote:

Dev wrote:

Higgs wrote:

Dev wrote:We need to all meet in the middle on trans issues and move on. Use their pronouns and show respect. They can't play sports. Sorry. Bathrooms? I don't know. Let's iron out the details on that one together.

Succinct and to the point.

I forgot the gender affirming care part. All for it except for hormone treatment(or any physical procedures)in anyone under 18 except in special cases where people were born intersex.

See, that’s nobody’s business. None of it. You or I have no right dictating to anyone about any of that.

Do you not think there are any possible risks to hormone therapy?

Once again you have a manufactured global panic about an immeasurably small number of the population. It’s literally nobody business except that family’s if they want to do that. It doesn’t even happen in any numbers that would make a difference and even if it did what of it? It’s nobody’s business except that family’s.

epilogue wrote:There are no "trans issues." There is no "trans debate." There are only trans people, and the people who support them, and the people who support, either actively or passively, their oppression.

Dev wrote:

dimejinky99 wrote:

Dev wrote:

dimejinky99 wrote:

Dev wrote:

Higgs wrote:

Dev wrote:We need to all meet in the middle on trans issues and move on. Use their pronouns and show respect. They can't play sports. Sorry. Bathrooms? I don't know. Let's iron out the details on that one together.

Succinct and to the point.

I forgot the gender affirming care part. All for it except for hormone treatment(or any physical procedures)in anyone under 18 except in special cases where people were born intersex.

See, that’s nobody’s business. None of it. You or I have no right dictating to anyone about any of that.

Do you not think there are any possible risks to hormone therapy?

Once again you have a manufactured global panic about an immeasurably small number of the population. It’s literally nobody business except that family’s if they want to do that. It doesn’t even happen in any numbers that would make a difference and even if it did what of it? It’s nobody’s business except that family’s.

I don't think I have manufactured panic. That seems like a stretch. And I do like the idea of leaving things up to the individuals but also I don't want anyone to make any decisions they regret. Remember how cray cray you were during puberty? Now imagine they added in some bonus hormones. Miss me with that shit.

BurtReynolds wrote:Also please be more respectful. This is a forum for rational debate, not a place for name calling and pedophile accusations. I wouldn't want you to get banned.

Dev wrote:

epilogue wrote:There are no "trans issues." There is no "trans debate." There are only trans people, and the people who support them, and the people who support, either actively or passively, their oppression.

Then let's be clear. I support them and love them but I think it's likely you do not. You seem to be eager to weaponize the issue of their existence to fight with people and promote yourself. You don't represent the group any more than any do. But what you do represent more than I do is a grandstanding white male who doesn't know their place. In reality your position is so obtuse you are just hurting the trans population. It's exactly people like you who push people in the middle to the right, and create arguments that Joe Rogans can easily debunk and feel proud of themselves for. In reality you are a lot more similar to a UFC fan than you think. Just look in the mirror, FightClub.

spike wrote:

BurtReynolds wrote:Also please be more respectful. This is a forum for rational debate, not a place for name calling and pedophile accusations. I wouldn't want you to get banned.

lol

BurtReynolds wrote:

spike wrote:

BurtReynolds wrote:Also please be more respectful. This is a forum for rational debate, not a place for name calling and pedophile accusations. I wouldn't want you to get banned.

lol

Ello Sailor wrote:You're an imbecile. Respectfully.