Asymmetric Divides Deepen Under Trump's Unprecedented Actions

Strategic Insights -

A new poll conducted by Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and the Brookings Institution has found that nearly two-thirds of Americans believe the U.S. is headed in the wrong direction, fueled by dissatisfaction with President Trump's impact on the economy, immigration, race relations, and the nation's global standing. The poll, which surveyed 5,543 adults aged 18 and older, reveals a significant share of Americans expressing low marks on the economy and government functioning, including nearly 30% of Republicans. The survey's findings suggest that anger could rewire political alliances and test the durability of Trump's support in the 2026 midterms.

Key Takeaways:

  • The poll found that 62% of Americans, including 92% of Democrats and 71% of independents, believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, with a 68-point gap between Republicans and Democrats on the question.
  • The widest gap in PRRI's 16 years of surveys on religion and politics, with 24% of Republicans saying the nation was heading in the wrong direction.
  • Six in 10 Americans say the state of race relations in the U.S. has mostly changed for the worse since the beginning of the year.
  • Six in 10 Americans also say the cuts in federal funding of health care programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act have gone too far.
  • A majority of respondents said they're dissatisfied with how the Trump administration deals with other countries and that Trump's tariffs on imported goods have gone too far.
  • The majority of Americans oppose the Trump administration's aggressive moves to remove millions of unauthorized immigrants and those who previously had protective statuses.
  • Nearly two-thirds oppose arresting and detaining unauthorized immigrants who have resided in the U.S. with no criminal record.
  • The majority of Americans disapprove of the overall job Trump is doing as president (56%), with most Republicans (86%) approving while independents (32%) and Democrats (8%) disapprove.

Statistics:

  • 62% of Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction.
  • 24% of Republicans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction.
  • 92% of Democrats believe the country is headed in the wrong direction.
  • 71% of independents believe the country is headed in the wrong direction.
  • 6 in 10 Americans say the state of race relations in the U.S. has mostly changed for the worse since the beginning of the year.
  • 6 in 10 Americans say the cuts in federal funding of health care programs have gone too far.
  • 54% of Americans say Trump's tariffs on imported goods have gone too far.
  • 55% of Americans say the cuts in federal funding and grants to universities and research institutions have gone overboard.
  • 56% of Americans disapprove of the overall job Trump is doing as president.

Sources:

  • Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and the Brookings Institution's American Values Survey, conducted online Aug. 15-Sept. 8, 2025, with a margin of sampling error of ±1.79 percentage points.
  • AP-NORC poll, released in October 2025, found 69% of Americans thought the nation was headed in the wrong direction and 30% in the right direction.
  • Gallup Poll, released in September 2025, found 67% of Americans are dissatisfied with how things are going in the U.S., and 29% are satisfied.