Poll: Voters Expect Big Change from Trump

President Donald Trump’s change campaign raised expectations to tremendous heights on a range of politically thorny issues, according to a poll released Wednesday.

The Politico/Morning Consult survey of 1,992 registered voters, conducted from Thursday to Monday, suggests that large majorities of Americans believe it is somewhat likely that Trump and Congress will succeed in renegotiating trade deals, repealing the Affordable Care Act, passing comprehensive tax reform, passing a public works bill, creating new manufacturing jobs, and removing environmental and energy restrictions adopted in the previous administration.

And that is all in Trump’s first year.

That is a tall order, given that achieving any one major initiative in a year is a good record by historical standards.

[lz_table title=”Trump and the Issues” source=”Politico/Morning Consult”]Views on Trump/GOP agenda
|Issue,Excited/Satisfied
Renegotiate trade,62%
Repeal Obamacare,50%
Tax reform,65%
Border wall,46%
Reduce immigration,54%
Paid family leave,71%
Manufacturing jobs,82%
[/lz_table]

Trump’s overall approval rating, according to the poll, is 50 percent. That is higher than some other recent surveys.

The good news for Trump is that most respondents describe themselves as “excited” or “satisfied” with a number of priorities for Trump and congressional Republicans.

Renegotiating trade deals, for instance, wins support from 62 percent. It’s 50 percent for repealing Obamacare. Majorities are even bigger in support of tax reform, infrastructure, paid family leave, and creating manufacturing jobs.

Trump’s signature campaign issue — building a wall along the southwest border — is more controversial. Some 22 percent said they are excited by the prospect, and 24 percent are satisfied. Meanwhile, 41 percent say they are “disappointed” or “upset” by the prospect.

The idea of reducing the number of immigrants allowed into the country wins broader support, with 54 percent saying they would be excited or satisfied by that.

Given a range of options, creating new manufacturing jobs was the most popular choice for what should be the top priority for Trump and Congress. It was the choice of 23 percent, far ahead of tax reform, which was the second most popular choice at 12 percent.

The poll also suggest that 47 percent agree defense spending should be increased. That aligns with Trump’s No. 1 spending priority. Only the Department of Education (48 percent) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (60 percent) rated more popular for spending increases. On the other hand, the poll does not show widespread support for domestic cuts that Trump seeks in order to pay for the defense spending hikes.

The poll also contains very bad numbers for one of Trump’s biggest antagonists — the media.

Among respondents, 50 percent said it is inappropriate for reporters to use anonymous sources. Some 41 percent think reporting on political issues is somewhat or very inaccurate, compared with 50 percent who believe it is very or somewhat accurate. Even worse, a plurality — 44 percent — think it is likely journalists make up anonymous sources for stories.

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To pass his legislative agenda, Trump will need cooperation from Congress. The poll suggests that Republican leaders in Congress are more popular than the Democratic leaders.

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) has an overall favorability rating of 43 percent, compared with 27 percent who view House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) favorably.

Neither of the Senate leaders are popular, but Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is the lesser of the two. A staggering 51 percent of respondents said they have a very or somewhat unfavorable view of him, compared with 41 percent who have an unfavorable view of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).