Americans' Views on Trump's First 100 Days

By Jason Lange

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals that Americans prioritize inflation as the top issue for President-elect Donald Trump to address in his first 100 days in office.

• Key Findings:
  • 35% of respondents identified inflation as Trump's primary focus.
  • Immigration was chosen by 30%, and jobs and the economy by 27%.
  • 23% suggested Trump should work on unifying the country.
  • Lesser numbers pointed to taxes, crime, or foreign conflicts.

Context:
Trump, who won the election against Democrat Kamala Harris on November 5 and secured Republican control of the Senate and House, intends to initiate significant policy shifts, including tariffs on imports, tax cuts, and mass deportation of immigrants.
Economists warn that Trump's proposed tariffs, particularly on Chinese goods, could further escalate prices for consumers and reignite inflation, reminiscent of the issues faced during Biden's administration.

Inflation surged during 2021 and 2022 due to COVID-19-related disruptions. Although recent price increases have stabilized, inflation rates remain high.

• Only 1% of respondents felt Trump should focus on international trade and tariffs directly.
• The survey encompassed 1,014 U.S. adults with a margin of error of about 3 percentage points.

Political Breakdown:
Among Republicans, 56% prioritize immigration, while only 11% of Democrats share this view. Meanwhile, 33% of Democrats believe unifying the country should be Trump's main focus, in contrast to 12% of Republicans.

Public Sentiment:
The poll indicates a slight increase in optimism among Republicans, with 30% believing the country is on the right track, up from 3% before the election. Conversely, 8% of Democrats think positively, down from 29%.

Trump enters office with low approval ratings in a polarized political climate; 44% view him favorably, while 51% do not.