Trump's Return

As President Trump begins his second term, a new poll conducted by More in Common reveals a surprising consensus among Americans: a commitment to constitutionality, bipartisan support for wildfire relief, shared beliefs in principled foreign policy, and a desire for unity. 

The poll, conducted from January 13-16, 2025, surveyed 2,003 Americans to explore their opinions and hopes as the country enters a new political era. Below are five key findings that capture Americans’ views in this political moment.

1. Regardless of party, Americans want Trump to honor constitutional constraints. ​

• 74% of Americans, including 73% of Republicans, believe that he should “always follow the Constitution, even if means he sometimes can’t get things done.”  ​Only 15% of Americans, including 17% of Republicans believe that Trump “should get things done, even it means sometimes ignoring the Constitution.”
• Gen Z men stand apart from the average, with 42% saying Trump is justified in sometimes ignoring the Constitution.​

2. Americans are aligned on a foreign policy defined by being respected, peaceful and a reliable ally to democracies. ​

• Only 13% support expansion through invasion and just 26% through the purchase of new territories. However, majorities across parties endorse goals of honoring international alliances, building respect for the country, staying out of wars, and protecting other democracies from invasion.  ​

3. Support for federal aid to California has underappreciated bipartisan support.​

•  Fully 78% of Americans and 72% of Republicans support providing federal assistance for relief efforts for the California wildfires, while just 6% are opposed. Republican support for federal aid is grossly underestimated by Democrats.​

4. Division defines the country, while a desire to be united transcends parties.

• Across political lines, “divided” is the most commonly chosen word to describe America today.​
• Reflecting on the future, Americans most desire the country to be “united”, but don’t believe it’s a priority for the opposing party. Republicans think Democrats want the country to be “green” and “global,” whereas Democrats think Republicans want the country to be “traditional” and “Christian/religious.”

5. Elon Musk’s controversial entry into politics receives mixed, polarized responses.

• Americans most commonly describe Musk as “smart”, “ambitious”, and “creative”. However, their perceptions of his entry into politics are highly polarized, receiving more concern and ambivalence than appreciation. ​