A new Harvard-Harris CAPS poll shows strong support for several of President Trump’s individual policies, even as his overall approval rating continues to lag and the broader political landscape remains evenly divided ahead of the midterms.
On specific issues, the support is clear and, in some cases, overwhelming. The poll found that 75% of registered voters back deporting illegal immigrants convicted of violent crimes. Another 84% support efforts to reduce prescription drug prices, one of the highest marks in the survey.
Measures like cracking down on fraud (73%), capping credit-card interest rates (69%), and maintaining separate categories in girls’ sports based on biological sex (63%) also drew majority approval.
Even on foreign policy, where Trump’s overall handling receives weaker marks, there is agreement on certain goals. Just 39% approve of his management of the conflict involving Iran, yet 74% say preventing Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons aligns with U.S. interests. The distinction between strategy and objective stands out.
But the broader approval picture is less favorable. Trump’s overall job approval sits at 42% in this poll and trends slightly lower—around 40.5%—in aggregated polling averages.
Ratings on core issues like the economy and inflation, once seen as strengths, have dipped to 39% and 37%, respectively. Concerns about cost of living continue to weigh heavily on voters.
Not all policies land the same way. A majority of respondents oppose certain proposals, including cuts to Medicaid (56% disapproval), expanded nationwide deportation raids (53%), and tariffs (51%). These divisions mirror the broader tension in the data: voters may back individual actions while remaining skeptical of the overall direction.
Politically, the landscape remains tightly contested. When asked which party they prefer to control Congress after the midterms, respondents split evenly at 50% for Republicans and 50% for Democrats. Approval ratings for the parties themselves are close as well, with Republicans at 45% and Democrats at 43%.
The poll, conducted among 2,745 registered voters in late April, reflects a moment where issue-by-issue agreement does not translate into unified political support. Voters appear willing to separate policies from the person advancing them, creating a dynamic where approval can rise in one column while falling in another.
