April 25, 2023
A Second Trump Presidency?
NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist National Poll
About Two in Three Americans Oppose Second Trump Administration, But Many Republicans Still Want Trump as President Even if Found Guilty on Criminal Charges
Many Americans are not embracing embattled former President Donald Trump’s second bid for the White House. Nearly two in three Americans, including more than one in four Republicans, do not want Trump to be president, again. However, more than seven in ten Republicans say they want Trump back in the Oval Office, including 63% who say so even if Trump is found guilty of a crime. While Trump faces a long list of legal battles, President Joe Biden continues to receive a job approval rating in the low 40s.
Nearly two in three Americans (64%), similar to 61% in March, say they do not want former President Trump to be president, again. Most Democrats (92%), more than two in three independents (68%), and even 27% of Republicans say they do not want a second Trump Administration. 34% of U.S. residents, including 71% of Republicans, do want Trump back in the White House.
Driven by Republicans (63%), more than one in four Americans (27%) say they want Trump to be president, again, even if he is found guilty of a crime.
Nearly six in ten Americans (58%) think Trump should drop out of the 2024 presidential contest given the criminal charges brought against him by a New York grand jury. 41% say he should continue his presidential bid. While 87% of Democrats and 58% of independents think he should drop out, 77% of the GOP think he should remain in the race.
President Biden’s job approval rating among Americans is 41%, little changed from the 42% approval rating he received last month. 50% disapprove of how Biden is performing in office, and 9% are unsure. 21% of Americans strongly approve of Biden’s job performance while nearly twice as many (39%) strongly disapprove.
"While most Americans do not want a sequel to the Trump Presidency, there is a strong contingent of Republicans who have a 'Trump no matter what' attitude," says Lee M. Miringoff, Director of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. "This can certainly play to the former President’s advantage in the primary, especially if there is a crowded field. However, these numbers indicate a tough go for Trump in the general election."