February 2026
February 2026
February 2026
FEBRUARY CAPS / HARRIS POLL: TRUMP'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS GETS A 60% FAVORABLE RATING, WITH ALL 11 NEW POLICIES RECEIVING MAJORITY SUPPORT
News Provided By:
Stagwell Inc.
Published Date
March 02, 2026, 10:40 AM ET
52% OF VOTERS SAY ECONOMY IS BETTER TODAY THAN UNDER BIDEN, UP 5 PTS. FROM JANUARY
65% OF VOTERS AGREE WITH THE SUPREME COURT’S DECISION LIMITING EXECUTIVE POWER TO IMPOSE TARIFFS IN NON-EMERGENCIES
85% OF VOTERS SAY ONLY U.S. CITIZENS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO VOTE WITH 71% SUPPORTING THE SAVE AMERICA ACT
THE MIDTERMS HORSERACE IS TIED, BUT REPUBLICANS HAVE A 4-PT. MESSAGING EDGE AMONG LIKELY VOTERS
76% OF AMERICANS SUPPORT FREE ENTERPRISE OVER SOCIALIST POLICIES, WITH STRONG CONSENSUS FOR PRIVATE HOMEOWNERSHIP, PROPERTY RIGHTS, AND PRIVATELY RUN GROCERY STORES
59% OF VOTERS NOW SUPPORT MADURO’S ARREST AND VENEZUELA INTERVENTION, A 5-PT. INCREASE, AND 62% SAY TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SHOULD PUSH VENEZUELA TOWARDS DEMOCRACY
NEW YORK, NY and CAMBRIDGE, MA / ACCESS Newswire / March 2, 2026 / 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.
President Donald Trump’s approval rating is at 46%, showing slight improvements across nearly every policy area. His job approval is highest on fighting crime in America’s cities (51%), immigration (48%), and returning America to its values (48%); and lowest on responding to anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis (42%) and tariffs and trade policy (43%). This month’s poll also covered public opinion on the State of the Union, overall economy, midterms, recent Supreme Court ruling, voter ID requirements, economic ideology, and U.S. foreign policy in Latin America, the Middle East, and Ukraine. We will release a special follow-up report later this week on the conflict in Iran. Download the key results here.
“The Americans are single-mindedly focused on the economy, and this poll shows there is room for people to change their opinion as we’re seeing some improvement in the long-term trend,” said Mark Penn, Co-Director of the Harvard CAPS / Harris poll and Stagwell Chairman and CEO. “The administration has to keep working on explaining its economic policy to change the minds of voters ahead of the midterms.”
SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT IN PERCEPTIONS OF THE ECONOMY
- 51% of voters say the U.S. economy is strong today (+2 pts., Jan. 2026; +8 pts., Nov. 2025).
- 36% of voters say their personal financial situation is improving (+4 pts., Nov. 2025), particularly among Republican, male, likely midterm, 25-44 y.o., and urban voters.
- 52% of voters say the economy is better today than it was when Biden was president (+5 pts., Jan. 2026). 59% attribute today’s economy to Trump (Democrats: 75%; Republicans: 44%; Independents: 58%).
- 52% of voters say the economy is shrinking (-4). 62% think inflation is above 3 percent, including a majority across political parties (-4).
VOTERS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT MOST OF TRUMP’S POLICIES
- The majority of key Trump policies continue to see majority support. His most popular policies are lowering prescription drug prices (80% support), deporting illegal immigrants who have committed crimes (75%), eliminating fraud in government expenditures (71%), and capping credit card interest rates at 10% for one year (69%).
- Trump’s least popular policies include removing information about civil rights and climate change from public sites (32% support), Medicaid cost cuts (42%), and hiring additional ICE agents to conduct immigration raids (45%).
- Inflation and immigration continue to be the nation’s top two most important issues today, according to voters, with healthcare increasing in salience this month (+3).
- The Republican Party approval rating is at 48% (+4 pts., Jan. 2026), while the Democratic Party approval rating is at 45% (+1). Congressional approval is at 34% (+2).
FAVORABLE RESPONSE TO STATE OF THE UNION WITH NEW TRUMP POLICIES SEEING STRONG SUPPORT
- 47% of voters say they watched the State of the Union address, with 60% who watched at least some of the address having a favorable opinion of it.
- All 11 of Trump’s new policies announced in the address received majority support, with the most popular being a stock trading ban on Congressional members (72%), federal accounts for employees without retirement plans (70%), a ban preventing single-family home purchases from Wall Street firms (69%), and a most-favored-nation drug pricing deal (68%).
- 52% of voters say it was appropriate for some Democrats to boycott the address, but 57% say their booing and jeering was inappropriate.
- 33% of voters watched the Democratic rebuttal speech by Virginia governor Abigail Spanberger, with 61% who watched at least some of the speech having a favorable opinion of it.
REPUBLICANS GAIN EDGE POST-EXPOSURE TO PARTY MESSAGING IF CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS WERE HELD TODAY
- Voters are split 50-50 on which party they would vote for if the congressional election were held today (Republicans +4 pts., Jan. 2026).
- When given statements about party messaging, Republican messaging on responsible governance via curbed spending, closed borders, and reduced crime resonates most, with more than 2 in 5 voters, a plurality, saying the messages make them more likely to vote Republican.
- Anti-Trump messaging from Democrats is more effective than affordability messaging, with 61% of voters saying messages on stopping Trump and his tariffs are believable. However, the message only delivers a net +2 boost in likely vote choice toward Democrats.
- After exposure to each party’s messaging, 51% of voters say they are more likely to vote for a Republican for Congress than a Democrat. The Republican lead grows to 4 pts. among likely voters.
VOTERS AGREE WITH SUPREME COURT RULING AGAINST TRUMP’S TARIFFS
- 65% of voters agree with the Supreme Court’s ruling limiting Trump’s power to impose global tariffs without congressional approval, including a majority across political parties.
- 62% of voters say fentanyl/drug trafficking and large U.S. trade deficits are real issues and emergencies facing the country (Democrats: 43%; Republicans: 81%; Independents: 59%), but 42%, a plurality, say the president should not have authority to impose tariffs in non-emergency situations.
- 56% of voters oppose Trump’s new 15% global tariff after the Supreme Court ruling.
- 51% of voters oppose Trump’s tariffs imposed last year, with 54% saying the tariffs went too far.
MOST VOTERS BACK THE SAVE AMERICA ACT, BELIEVING ONLY U.S. CITIZENS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO VOTE
- 58% of voters believe there is at least some voter fraud in U.S. elections, particularly among Republicans (77%) and Independents (58%), despite 60% saying the elections are generally secure.
- 85% of voters say only U.S. citizens should be allowed to vote, including a strong majority across political parties.
- 71% of voters support the SAVE America Act (Democrats: 50%; Republicans: 91%; Independents: 69%), with 54% prioritizing stopping voter fraud over access concerns for eligible citizens.
- The majority of voters support specific requirements of the Act, including proof of citizenship (75%), voter ID (81%), states removing non-citizens from voter rolls (80%), and states sharing redacted voting rolls with the Department of Homeland Security (61%).
- 73% of voters say we should have a national law requiring all ballots to be counted within 24 hours of Election Day.
- 68% of voters support early voting, including a majority across political parties.
AMERICANS ARE OVERWHLEMINGLY PRO-FREE ENTERPRISE
- 76% of voters say America should be run as a free enterprise country, including a strong majority across political parties, and 78% believe they have a better life under such a system.
- 59% say capitalism is a better economic system than socialism (Democrats: 46%; Republicans: 74%; Independents: 57%).
- 91% of voters support private homeownership, private property rights, and freedom of opinion. 84% believe grocery stores should be privately run.
- 65% of voters believe the people own their own houses, not the state, under socialism, including a majority across political parties.
- 52% of voters say teachers’ unions are heavily involved in politics, with most viewing them as in the political center (41%) or left-leaning (37%). 60% say they should not be involved in political issues (Democrats: 50%; Republicans: 63%; Independents: 66%).
MAJORITY SUPPORT FOR TRUMP’S GAZA DEAL
- 73% of voters support Trump’s deal to secure the safe return of Israeli hostages and end hostilities in Gaza (+6), including a majority across political parties and age groups.
- 71% of voters continue to support Israel over Hamas in the conflict.
MORE VOTERS SUPPORT MADURO’S ARREST VERSUS LAST MONTH, WANT MORE AGGRESSIVE U.S. STANCE AGAINST DICTATORS AND DRUG CARTELS
- 59% of voters support the arrest of Nicolás Maduro (+5), with 58% saying his removal was in the national interest of the U.S. (+7; Democrats: 41%; Republicans: 79%; Independents: 52%).
- 54% of voters say the U.S. should try to fix the Venezuelan oil industry (-3), though 51% say the U.S. is not entitled to proceeds.
- 62% of voters believe pushing Venezuela towards a democratic transition should be a key priority for the Trump administration, including a majority across political parties.
- 67% of voters say the U.S. should take a more aggressive stand in our hemisphere against leaders propped up by drug cartels, and 62% support a U.S. maximum pressure campaign on the government of Mexico to fight drug cartels.
- 66% of voters think the U.S. should take a more aggressive stance against dictators propped up by Russia and China (+5).
MAJORITY OF VOTERS WANT THE U.S. TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING UKRAINE
- 66% of voters say Trump should continue to provide weapons to Ukraine and impose further economic sanctions on Russia, including a majority across political parties.
- 63% of voters say Ukraine should receive direct security guarantees from the U.S. if it makes concessions to end the war.
- 51% of voters support Trump’s handling of the Ukraine-Russia conflict so far.
The February Harvard CAPS / Harris poll survey was conducted online within the United States on February 25-26, 2026, among 1,999 registered voters by The Harris Poll and HarrisX. Follow the Harvard CAPS / Harris poll podcast at https://www.markpennpolls.com/ or on iHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
About The Harris Poll & HarrisX
The Harris Poll is a global consulting and market research firm that strives to reveal the authentic values of modern society to inspire leaders to create a better tomorrow. It works with clients in three primary areas: building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. One of the longest-running surveys in the U.S., The Harris Poll has tracked public opinion, motivations, and social sentiment since 1963, and is now part of Stagwell, the challenger holding company built to transform marketing.
HarrisX is a technology-driven market research and data analytics company that conducts multi-method research in the U.S. and over 40 countries around the world on behalf of Fortune 100 companies, public policy institutions, global leaders, NGOs and philanthropic organizations. HarrisX was the most accurate pollster of the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
About the Harvard Center for American Political Studies
The Center for American Political Studies (CAPS) is committed to and fosters the interdisciplinary study of U.S. politics. Governed by a group of political scientists, sociologists, historians, and economists within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University, CAPS drives discussion, research, public outreach, and pedagogy about all aspects of U.S. politics. CAPS encourages cutting-edge research using a variety of methodologies, including historical analysis, social surveys, and formal mathematical modeling, and it often cooperates with other Harvard centers to support research training and encourage cross-national research about the United States in comparative and global contexts. More information at https://caps.gov.harvard.edu/.
Contact:
Carrie Hsu
pr@stagwellglobal.com
SOURCE: Stagwell
February 2026
January 2026
JANUARY HARVARD CAPS / HARRIS POLL: TRUMP APPROVAL DROPS 2 PTS. WITH 57% OF VOTERS SAYING ICE AND CBP HAVE GONE TOO FAR
News Provided By:
Stagwell Inc.
Published Date
February 02, 2026, 12:35 PM ET
55% OF VOTERS DISAPPROVE OF HOW IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE ENFORCING LAWS IN U.S. CITIES, WITH 40% STRONGLY DISAPPROVING
80% OF VOTERS WANT ICE AND CBP TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES DURING ENFORCEMENT, AND 86% OF VOTERS SUPPORT BODY CAMERA REQUIREMENTS FOR AGENTS
67% WANT LOCAL OFFICIALS TO COOPERATE WITH FEDERAL AUTHORITIES TO DEPORT CRIMINAL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
63% OF VOTERS ATTRIBUTE THE ECONOMY TO TRUMP OVER BIDEN, AN 11-PT. INCREASE, WITH VIEWS OF THE ECONOMY SPLIT
55% OF VOTERS SAY TRUMP POLICIES HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT WITH CAMPAIGN PROMISES, AND 54% SAY TRUMP HAS ACCOMPLISHED A LOT IN HIS FIRST YEAR; 15 OF 22 KEY TRUMP POLICIES CONTINUE TO RECEIVE MAJORITY SUPPORT
DEMOCRATS HOLD AN 8-POINT LEAD IN THE 2026 MIDTERM GENERIC BALLOT AMONG REGISTERED VOTERS, AND 4-POINTS AMONG LIKELY VOTERS
64% OF VOTERS WANT DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION IN VENEZUELA TO BE A KEY PRIORITY FOR ADMINISTRATION
59% OF VOTERS SAY THE U.S. SHOULD SUPPORT IRAN REGIME CHANGE
69% OF VOTERS SAY MAINTAINING NATO IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ACQUIRING GREENLAND
NEW YORK, NY AND CAMBRIDGE, MA / ACCESS Newswire / February 2, 2026 / Stagwell (NASDAQ:STGW) today released the results of the January Harvard CAPS / Harris poll, a monthly collaboration between the Center for American Political Studies at Harvard (CAPS) and the Harris Poll and HarrisX.
President Donald Trump’s approval rating is at 45%, down 2 points from December with a small decline across each policy area. Trump’s job approval is highest on his response to anti-ICE protest in Minneapolis (51%) and fighting crime in America’s cities (47%), and lowest on handling inflation (39%) and tariffs and trade policy (39%). This month’s poll also covered public opinion on immigration policy, Minnesota, the economy, political factions, Venezuela, Greenland and NATO, the Israel-Hamas conflict, Iran, and the war in Ukraine. Download the key results here.
“President Trump’s ratings are slowing declining with Americans seeing the economy sagging and inflation raging, even though economic statistics show the opposite,” said Mark Penn, Co-Director of the Harvard CAPS / Harris poll and Stagwell Chairman and CEO. “On immigration, the public supports removing criminal aliens but believe that ICE has gone too far and is randomly picking up migrants, a policy they do not support. Given these two trends, Republicans are now facing a tough midterm election.”
IMMIGRATION INCHES INTO VOTERS’ TOP TWO CONCERNS ALONGSIDE THE ECONOMY
49% of voters say the U.S. economy is strong (+2, Dec. 2025).
The Republican Party approval rating is at 44% (-2), while the Democratic Party approval rating is at 44% (+3). Congressional approval is at 32% (-3).
Inflation and immigration are the nation’s top two most important issues today, according to American voters. 33% of voters say inflation is the most important issue (-3, Dec. 2025), and 29% of voters say immigration (+3).
Among key American institutions and federal agencies, voters have the highest net favorable view of the U.S. Military (+58 net favorable) and the police (+35) and the least favorable view of ICE (-16).
DEMOCRATS HAVE EDGE IF CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS WERE HELD TODAY
74% of voters say they will definitely or probably vote in the 2026 Congressional midterm elections (Definitely: Democrats: 69%; Republicans: 66%; Independents: 43%).
54% of voters say they would vote for a Democrat if the congressional election was held today, an 8-pt. lead over Republicans. The lead narrows to 4 pts. among likely voters.
MOST TRUMP POLICIES CONTINUE TO BE POPULAR AS VOTERS CREDIT HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE PAST YEAR
55% of voters say Trump’s policies have been consistent with campaign promises, and 54% say he has accomplished a lot in his first year.
49% of voters, a plurality, say Trump’s policies thus far have set America on a worse path. 49% say Trump is doing a better job than Biden (-4).
15 of 22 key Trump policies continue to see majority support. His most popular policies are lowering prescription drug prices (83% support), deporting illegal immigrants who have committed crimes (73%), eliminating fraud in government expenditures (70%), and capping credit card interest rates at 10% for one year (69%).
Trump’s least popular policies include hiring an additional 20,000 border patrol and ICE agents to conduct immigration raids (43%), Medicaid cost cuts (44%), and withdrawing from international organizations (46%).
55% of voters say Trump is making bad deals on behalf of the country (+4).
VOTERS BELIEVE ICE AND CBP SHOULD FOCUS ON IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE COMMITTED CRIMES
55% of voters disapprove of how immigration enforcement agencies like ICE and Border Patrol (CBP) are enforcing laws in U.S. cities, with 40% strongly disapproving. 57% say ICE and CBP have gone too far.
67% of voters say local officials should cooperate with federal immigration authorities on deporting illegal immigrants who have committed crimes.
60% of voters believe Democratic officials have been encouraging resistance to ICE, with 57% opposing elected officials who do so.
The majority of voters say ICE should not be allowed to conduct raids at schools or daycare (72%), on the street without a warrant (68%), and at workplaces (56%). 56% of voters believe ICE has been taking people randomly off the street (Democrats: 76%; Republicans: 37%; Independents: 57%).
44% of voters, a plurality, say ICE officers should only go after individuals who have committed crimes rather than performing sweeps of places with many illegal immigrants (Democrats: 58%; Republicans: 26%; Independents: 50%).
Voters across political parties strongly support deporting illegal and legal immigrants who have committed a serious crime but are split on deporting other undocumented immigrants who do not have criminal records and generally do not support deportations of those who have lived in the U.S. for years, arrived as a child, or committed a minor infraction.
MAJORITY BELIEVE ICE AND CBP HAVE GONE TOO FAR IN MINNEAPOLIS; WANT AGENTS TO WEAR BODY CAMERAS AND IDENTIFY THEMSELVES
58% of voters say ICE and CBP have been using too much force in Minneapolis.
56% say ICE is not justified in arresting U.S. citizens it believes are interfering with enforcement efforts. 62% say it is violating American civil liberties.
62% of voters believe ICE was too quick to escalate situations leading to the shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
59% of voters, including a majority across political parties, believe the Trump administration is doubling down on its actions in Minneapolis rather than de-escalating and changing course.
55% of voters support Congressional Republicans withholding funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the upcoming government funding bill, but 53% do not support Democrats withholding votes and triggering another government shutdown.
80% of voters say ICE and CBP should be required to identify themselves when conducting enforcement activities, and 86% say agents should wear body cameras, including a strong majority across political parties.
55% of voters say ICE incidents should be investigated by federal agencies like the FBI and DHS rather than local authorities.
MORE VOTERS ATTRIBUTE ECONOMY TO TRUMP OVER BIDEN
63% of voters say the current state of the economy is mostly due to the Trump administration rather than Biden (+11). 53% say it is worse than it was when Biden was president.
56% of voters say the economy is shrinking, and 66% say inflation is above 3% (-5), including a majority across political parties.
52% of voters, a strong plurality across political parties, say the economy was last “good” in 2020 before the pandemic (+3).
60% of voters favor economic policies of reduced government spending, lower taxes, tougher trade deals, lower prescription drug costs, and a closed border (Democrats: 50%; Republicans: 68%; Independents: 62%).
VOTERS WANT NEXT PRESIDENT TO GOVERN FROM THE CENTER RIGHT
58% of voters say the Republican Party is run by far-right politicians, while 52% say the Democratic Party is run by moderates.
55% of voters say Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Mayor Zohran Mamdani would be a danger to the country if elected to higher office. 62% say the same about Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens.
44%, a plurality, believe Trump governs from the far right. 44% want their next president to govern from the center right.
Democrats favor Kamala Harris (39%) followed by Gavin Newsom (30%) as their next candidate for President, while Republicans overwhelmingly favor J.D. Vance (53%) as their next presidential candidate.
DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION IN VENEZUELA SHOULD BE KEY PRIORITY FOR TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
54% of voters approve of the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro (Democrats: 40%; Republicans: 75%; Independents: 46%), with 72% believing he led a dictatorship.
59% of voters say it was in the national interest of the U.S. to remove Maduro from office (-7), but voters are split on whether it violated the U.S. Constitution and international law.
64% of voters believe pushing Venezuela towards a democratic transition should be a key priority for the Trump administration, including a majority across political parties.
57% of voters say the U.S. should try to fix the Venezuelan oil industry so that it is profitable for the Venezuelan people. 53% say the U.S. is not entitled to any oil proceeds.
61% of voters say the U.S. should take a more aggressive stand against narco trafficking dictators around the world. 56% are not worried about the U.S. being drawn into a war with Venezuelan troops.
VOTERS PRIORITIZE NATO OVER ACQUIRING GREENLAND BUT SUPPORT TRUMP’S SENTIMENT OF RESETTING U.S.-EUROPEAN RELATIONSHIPS
60% of voters say the U.S. should not try to obtain Greenland (Democrats: 78%; Republicans: 39%; Independents: 65%).
62% of voters believe the U.S. should demand a vote for Greenland residents to decide if they want to remain part of Denmark or become a U.S. territory.
53% of voters say Trump’s statements on Greenland are an unnecessary escalation with allies and risk unraveling NATO. 69% say maintaining NATO is more important for U.S. security than acquiring strategic territory.
62% of voters support Trump resetting U.S.-European relationships, with 56% believing European nations are failing to spend adequately on their defense.
59% of voters interpret “America First” as limiting foreign interventions, including a majority across political parties. 53% support pulling back from international organizations and focusing on national interests.
BOARD OF PEACE SEES SUPPORT; VOTERS WANT PALESTINIAN INVOLVEMENT IN RECONSTRUCTION OF GAZA
72% of voters continue to support Israel over Hamas.
67% of voters support Trump’s deal to secure the safe return of Israeli hostages and end hostilities in Gaza.
55% of voters support Trump launching the Board of Peace to fundraise for and oversee the reconstruction of Gaza. Voters are split on whether successful reconstruction requires Israel’s involvement, while 58% of voters say it requires Palestinian involvement.
57% of voters see Israel’s criticism of the Board of Peace as a symptom of politics rather than a serious rift between Trump and Israel.
65% of voters believe Hamas is rearming, including a majority across political parties (-3), despite 77% saying Hamas disarming should be a deal requirement. 48% of voters, a plurality, say Arab government should be responsible for ensuring Hamas disarms.
BROAD SUPPORT FOR REGIME CHANGE IN IRAN
59% of voters say the US should support regime change in Iran, including a majority across political parties. But 71% do not support a U.S. air strike in response to the regime killing protestors.
67% of voters believe the Iranian people do not support the Iranian regime run by the Ayatollah.
53% of voters say taking down the Iranian regime would more likely open the door to peace in the Middle East (Democrats: 42%; Republicans: 65%; Independents: 50%).
70% of voters believe Iran is rebuilding its nuclear capability.
CONTINUED MAJORITY SUPPORT FOR U.S. PROVIDING WEAPONS TO UKRAINE
67% of voters say the Trump administration should continue to provide weapons to Ukraine and impose further economic sanctions on Russia, including a majority across political parties (+2).
66% of voters say Ukraine should receive direct security guarantees from the U.S. if it makes concessions to end the war with Russia (+2).
54% of voters say Ukraine making territorial concessions to Russia will allow the country and the world to move forward in peace (-2), while others believe it will create a bad precedent.
The January Harvard CAPS / Harris poll survey was conducted online within the United States on January 28-29, 2026, among 2,000 registered voters by The Harris Poll and HarrisX. Follow the Harvard CAPS / Harris poll podcast at https://www.markpennpolls.com/ or on iHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
About The Harris Poll & HarrisX
The Harris Poll is a global consulting and market research firm that strives to reveal the authentic values of modern society to inspire leaders to create a better tomorrow. It works with clients in three primary areas: building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. One of the longest-running surveys in the U.S., The Harris Poll has tracked public opinion, motivations, and social sentiment since 1963, and is now part of Stagwell, the challenger holding company built to transform marketing.
HarrisX is a technology-driven market research and data analytics company that conducts multi-method research in the U.S. and over 40 countries around the world on behalf of Fortune 100 companies, public policy institutions, global leaders, NGOs and philanthropic organizations. HarrisX was the most accurate pollster of the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
About the Harvard Center for American Political Studies
The Center for American Political Studies (CAPS) is committed to and fosters the interdisciplinary study of U.S. politics. Governed by a group of political scientists, sociologists, historians, and economists within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University, CAPS drives discussion, research, public outreach, and pedagogy about all aspects of U.S. politics. CAPS encourages cutting-edge research using a variety of methodologies, including historical analysis, social surveys, and formal mathematical modeling, and it often cooperates with other Harvard centers to support research training and encourage cross-national research about the United States in comparative and global contexts. More information at https://caps.gov.harvard.edu/.
Contact:
Carrie Hsu
pr@stagwellglobal.com
SOURCE: Stagwell
January 2026
January 2026
January 2026
December 2025
DECEMBER HARVARD CAPS / HARRIS POLL: TRUMP APPROVAL RATING RESETS TO 47% POST-SHUTDOWN; AFFORDABILITY AND INFLATION TOP ECONOMIC WORRIES HEADING INTO 2026
News Provided By:
Stagwell Inc.
Published Date
December 08, 2025, 10:09 AM ET
62% OF VOTERS SAY REPUBLICANS WON THE SHUTDOWN FIGHT, AND 68% APPROVE OF THE DEAL THAT ENDED IT
55% TRUST TRUMP AND THE GOP TO MANAGE THE ECONOMY, 10 POINTS AHEAD OF THE DEMOCRATS, YET MOST VOTERS THINK TRUMP IS LOSING THE BATTLE ON INFLATION
59% SAY INFLATION AND COST OF LIVING MATTERS MOST TO THEM WHEN THINKING ABOUT THE ECONOMY
MOST VOTERS MISINFORMED ON THE ECONOMY WITH MAJORITY SAYING ECONOMY IS SHRINKING AND 71% OVERESTIMATING INFLATION
72% OF VOTERS SUPPORT THE GRANTING OF H1-B VISAS
85% SUPPORT THE REMOVAL OF MADURO FROM VENEZUELAN OFFICE
78% SUPPORT TRUMP’S 21-POINT PEACE PLAN FOR ISRAEL-GAZA, BUT 68% WORRY HAMAS IS NOW REARMING
64% OF VOTERS SAY UKRAINE SHOULD RECEIVE DIRECT SECURITY GUARANTEES FROM THE U.S. IF IT MAKES TERRITORIAL CONCERSSIONS
NEW YORK and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) today released the results of the December Harvard CAPS / Harris poll, a monthly collaboration between the Center for American Political Studies at Harvard (CAPS) and the Harris Poll and HarrisX.
President Donald Trump’s approval rating is at 47%, up 3 points from November. The bump is reflected across each policy issue. Trump’s job approval is highest on fighting crime in U.S. cities (51%) and returning America to its values (50%), and lowest on handling inflation (40%) and tariffs and trade policy (42%). This month’s poll also covered public opinion on the government shutdown, economy, H1-B visas, drug boat strikes, Israel-Hamas conflict, war in Ukraine, and Venezuela. Download the key results here.
“This poll is a clear bounce back from the government shutdown when attitudes of the American public were really going off of a cliff,” said Mark Penn, Co-Director of the Harvard CAPS / Harris poll and Stagwell Chairman and CEO. “But the concern for inflation – and what’s perceived as the administration’s failure to deal with it – is the dominant thing weighing down the administration. The State of the Union will be an important opportunity for the President to address some of these issues.”
GENERAL ATTITUDES REVERSE TO PRE-SHUTDOWN LEVELS
- 39% of voters say the country is on the right track (+4 pts., November 2025).
- 47% of voters say the U.S. economy is strong (+4).
- The Republican Party approval rating is at 46% (+2), while the Democratic Party approval rating is at 41% (-2). Congressional approval is at 35% (+8).
- 47% of voters say inflation or affordability is the most important issue to them personally, including a majority across political parties.
- Inflation and the economy remain the top two most important issues facing the country today, followed by healthcare.
MOST TRUMP POLICIES CONTINUE TO SEE MAJORITY SUPPORT
- Most of Trump’s policies continue to see majority support. His most popular policies are lowering prescription drug prices (86% support), deporting illegal immigrants who have committed crimes (80%), eliminating fraud in government expenditures (77%), and launching government website to buy discounted drugs directly from manufacturers (70%), with each receiving two-thirds support or more across political parties.
- Trump’s least popular policies include adding work requirements to Medicaid programs (43%), deploying the National Guard to American cities (51%), and tariffs (52%).
- 55% of voters say Trump’s policies will increase inflation (Democrats: 78%; Republicans: 30%; Independents: 59%).
- 43% of voters, a plurality, say Trump’s policies will make them financially worse off.
VOTERS VERY NEGATIVE ON SHUTDOWN, APPROVING OF COMPROMISE AND MORE NEGOTIATIONS THROUGH MODERATES IN THE FUTURE
- 62% of voters say Republicans won the government shutdown. Voters are split on which party caused the shutdown.
- 85% of voters say the shutdown hurt the U.S. economy.
- 46% of voters say the recent government shutdown affected them personally.
- 71% of voters say moderate Democrats made the right call to end the shutdown (Democrats: 59%; Republicans: 83%; Independents: 71%), and 68% of voters approve of the compromise that ended the shutdown.
- 77% of voters say leaders should negotiate more through moderates like those who backed the deal that ended the shutdown, including a majority across political parties.
DESPITE TRUSTING TRUMP AND GOP OVER DEMOCRATS TO HANDLE THE ECONOMY, MAJORITY STILL SEE TRUMP LOSING BATTLE AGAINST INFLATION
- 55% of voters say they trust the Trump administration and Republicans to manage the economy over Democrats in Congress (+6 pts., November 2025).
- 71% of voters say inflation is above 3% a year right now, including a majority across political parties, with the median estimate among both Democrats and Independents at 5% and 4% among Republicans.
- 57% of voters say Trump is losing the battle against inflation, and 56% say his tariff policies are harming the economy.
- 57% of voters say the economy is shrinking (-5; Democrats: 77%; Republicans: 31%; Independents: 64%).
VOTERS PERCEIVE THE LAST TIME THE ECONOMY WAS “GOOD” WAS PRE-PANDEMIC 2020
- 48% of voters, a strong plurality across political parties, say the economy was last “good” in 2020 before the pandemic.
- Price of groceries or household items is the top influence on voters’ views of the economy in the past three months (79%), followed by gas prices (55%) and personal financial situation (39%).
- 59% of voters say inflation or cost of living matters most to them when thinking about the state of the economy.
- 49% of voters say stories about the economy are negative (incl. the majority of Democrats and Independents), while 23% of voters say they are positive (incl. the plurality of Republicans).
- Voters are more likely to trust than distrust statements on the economy from government economic agencies and the Federal Reserve.
- After learning inflation has been below 3% since October 2023, 44% of voters, a plurality, say the new information improves their view on the economy, with 45% of voters saying they thought inflation was higher.
BROAD SUPPORT FOR H1-B VISAS
- 72% of voters support the granting of H-1B visas, including a strong majority across political parties.
- 54% of voters say H-1B visas do not cost Americans jobs (Democrats: 61%; Republicans: 45%; Independents: 56%).
- 64% of voters say H-1B visas help America become more innovative, including a majority across political parties.
- 61% of voters say there will always be a need for specialized talent from abroad, including a majority across political parties.
INCREASING SUPPORT FOR MADURO’S REMOVAL FROM OFFICE
- 64% of voters say Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro should be removed from office. When given context of Maduro’s election fraud and narco-terrorism indictment, 85% of voters say he should be removed, including a majority across political parties (+4).
- Among those who support Maduro’s removal, 76% say the U.S. should arrest Maduro and take him to the U.S. to face trial (+3).
- 54% of voters generally support Trump’s policy toward South and Latin America.
- 74% of voters say Maduro’s government is an enemy of the U.S., and 64% say it is an ally of China and Russia. 71% of voters believe it supports criminal cartels and illicit activities.
BROAD RECOGNITION FOR DRUG OVERDOSE AS A MAJOR PROBLEM, WITH TWO-THIRDS OF VOTERS IN SUPPORT OF U.S. DESTROYING DRUG BOATS
- 67% of voters say they support the US government destroying boats bringing drugs into the US from South America. 63% believe the boats are appropriately targeted for destruction.
- 65% of voters believe the Venezuelan government is participating in the drug trade, including a majority across political parties.
- 77% of voters say deaths from drug overdoses are a major problem, including a majority across political parties. 64% say drug-related deaths are deadlier than gun violence (Democrats: 50%; Republicans: 77%; Independents: 66%).
- 54% of voters say the U.S. military was wrong to launch the second missile that may have killed survivors, with voters split on whether this is a major incident or blown up for political purposes.
MAJORITY SUPPORT FOR TRUMP’S PEACE PLAN, BUT VOTERS WORRY HAMAS IS REARMING
- 70% of voters support Trump’s deal to secure the safe return of Israeli hostages and end hostilities in Gaza, including a majority across political parties and age groups.
- 68% of voters support Trump’s 21-point peace plan for Gaza. When given more details about the plan, 78% support it. 58% of voters say the peace plan played a large role in ending the war.
- 78% of voters say any deal should require Hamas to completely disarm and disband (+4). However, 68% of voters believe Hamas is rearming, including a majority across political parties.
- 59% of voters say there is still a lot of active fighting in Gaza on the ground.
- 69% of voters believe Iran is rebuilding its nuclear capability.
- 48% of voters, a plurality, say Arab governments should be responsible for ensuring Hamas disarms and disbands, while 33% say the U.S. should be responsible and 20% say Israel.
VOTERS BACK U.S. SECURITY GUARANTEES IF UKRAINE COMPROMISES
- 56% of voters say Ukraine making territorial concessions to Russia will allow the country and the world to move forward in peace and end the bloodshed. Voters remain split on whether Ukraine should concede or if it can win territory back.
- 64% of voters say Ukraine should receive direct security guarantees from the U.S. if it makes concessions to end the war with Russia.
- 53% of voters say they are satisfied with how Trump is managing negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
- 65% of voters say the Trump administration should continue to provide weapons to Ukraine and impose further economic sanctions on Russia, including a majority across political parties.
The December Harvard CAPS / Harris poll survey was conducted online within the United States on December 2-4, 2025, among 2,204 registered voters by The Harris Poll and HarrisX. Follow the Harvard CAPS / Harris poll podcast at https://www.markpennpolls.com/ or on iHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
About The Harris Poll & HarrisX
The Harris Poll is a global consulting and market research firm that strives to reveal the authentic values of modern society to inspire leaders to create a better tomorrow. It works with clients in three primary areas: building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. One of the longest-running surveys in the U.S., The Harris Poll has tracked public opinion, motivations, and social sentiment since 1963, and is now part of Stagwell, the challenger holding company built to transform marketing.
HarrisX is a technology-driven market research and data analytics company that conducts multi-method research in the U.S. and over 40 countries around the world on behalf of Fortune 100 companies, public policy institutions, global leaders, NGOs and philanthropic organizations. HarrisX was the most accurate pollster of the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
About the Harvard Center for American Political Studies
The Center for American Political Studies (CAPS) is committed to and fosters the interdisciplinary study of U.S. politics. Governed by a group of political scientists, sociologists, historians, and economists within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University, CAPS drives discussion, research, public outreach, and pedagogy about all aspects of U.S. politics. CAPS encourages cutting-edge research using a variety of methodologies, including historical analysis, social surveys, and formal mathematical modeling, and it often cooperates with other Harvard centers to support research training and encourage cross-national research about the United States in comparative and global contexts. More information at https://caps.gov.harvard.edu/.
Contact:
Carrie Hsu
pr@stagwellglobal.com