March 3, 2025
The State of the Union, March 2025
Majority Says State of the Union is Not Strong... Think President Trump is Moving Too Quickly
President Donald Trump will address a joint session of Congress tomorrow in a speech akin to a State of the Union Address. However, majorities of Americans do not think the union is strong, and say the nation continues on the wrong track. Of note, Americans’ perceptions of the “state of the union” in the US have improved since 2023. About six weeks into his second term, President Trump’s swift actions have not garnered overwhelming support from Americans. In fact, majorities believe the president is moving too quickly and think the cuts made to federal agencies will do more harm than good.
- 53% of Americans say the state of the union is not very strong or not strong at all. Included here are 74% of Democrats and 64% of independents. 47% of residents nationally, including 77% of Republicans, think the nation is very strong or strong. Of note, fewer Americans now say the state of the union is not very strong or not strong at all compared with 2023. At that time, 62% had this view.
- 54% of U.S. adults believe the country is moving in the wrong direction while 45% say it is heading in the right one. Perceptions of the nation's trajectory, though, have slightly improved. In December, 64% reported that the country was off track, and 35% said it was headed in the right direction.
- 56% of Americans, including 65% of independents, think President Trump has been rushing to make changes without considering the impact. 43% of Americans, including 35% of independents, say the president is doing what needs to be done to get the government on track.
- 55% of U.S. residents, including 61% of independents, believe the staff and funding cuts to federal government agencies will do more harm than good. 45% of adults say they will do more good than harm.
- 60% of residents believe most federal government employees are essential to the functioning of the United States. However, 40% think the United States could effectively function without most federal government employees.
- 58% of Americans are not very confident or not confident at all that President Trump will follow court rulings if the courts block his executive orders. 42% say they are very confident or confident that the president will accept the rulings of the courts. Republicans (75%) express greater confidence than Democrats (18%) and independents (34%) that President Trump will abide by court rulings which impact his executive orders.
A Majority Does Not Think U.S. System of Checks & Balances is Working Well
56% of Americans, including 79% of Democrats and 64% of independents, either disagree or strongly disagree that the nation’s system of checks and balances is working well. 43%, including 72% of Republicans, strongly agree or agree that the system is functioning effectively.
More than Six in Ten Oppose Eliminating the Department of Education
63% of U.S. residents either oppose or strongly oppose getting rid of the U.S. Department of Education. This includes 87% of Democrats and 64% of independents. In contrast, 37% of residents, including 65% of Republicans, either strongly support or support abolishing the department.
More than Seven in Ten Oppose U.S. Taking Ownership of Gaza
71% of adults nationally either oppose or strongly oppose the U.S. taking control of Gaza. 28% either strongly support or support such an action. Republicans divide. 48% are for the U.S. taking ownership of Gaza, and 49% are against it.
Lack of Consensus Exists about Support to Ukraine
37% of residents nationally think the U.S. is not giving Ukraine enough support in the war with Russia. 34% think the U.S. is giving Ukraine too much support, and 28% say the U.S. is giving it the right amount of support.
Majority of Americans Expect Grocery Prices to Rise
A majority of Americans (57%) think the price of groceries will increase in the next six months. 17% think they will decrease, and a little more than one in four (26%) say they will remain about the same.
Trump Approval Rating at 45%
Although Americans divide in their impressions of how President Trump is doing his job, 45% approve and 49% disapprove, Trump’s initial approval rating upon his return to the White House is markedly better than when he ended his first term in 2021. 38% of Americans, at that time, approved of how Trump was doing his job, and 57% disapproved. Notably, most Americans, regardless of their opinion about the president, feel strongly about their impressions of him. 44% of residents nationally strongly disapprove of Trump’s job performance while 36% strongly approve.
Americans Divide About the Direction President Trump is Moving the Country
45% of American describe the direction in which President Trump is moving the country as change for the better. 48%, though, say the direction is change for the worse. Seven percent say there has been no real change at all.
Americans also divide about the direction in which the president is moving U.S. immigration policy. 47% think it is change for the better while 43% think it is change for the worse. Ten percent perceive there is no real change.
When looking at the path on which President Trump is taking the U.S. economy, 42% say the direction is change for the better while 46% believe it is change for the worse. Eleven percent report the president’s trajectory for the economy marks no real change at all.
44% of Americans describe the direction that President Trump is moving U.S. foreign policy as change for the better, and 49% say it is change for the worse. Seven percent believe it is no real change at all.
On each of these questions, a partisan divide exists. Among independents, majorities are more likely to view the overall direction that the president is moving the country, as well as the directions of the economy and U.S. foreign policy, as change for the worse. Four in ten independents (40%) think the direction in which President Trump is moving immigration policy is an improvement. A plurality (45%) say it is change for the worse, and 14% report there has been no real change at all.
Majority with Unfavorable View of Musk
39% of residents have a favorable opinion of Elon Musk. 50% have an unfavorable opinion of Musk, and 11% are either unsure or have never heard of him.
When looking at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), 44% have an unfavorable opinion of DOGE. 39% of Americans have a favorable opinion of the department, and 17% have either never heard of DOGE or are unsure how to rate it.
Methodology
This survey of U.S. adults was conducted from February 24th through February 26th, 2025 by the Marist Poll sponsored in partnership with NPR and PBS News. Adults 18 years of age and older residing in the United States were contacted through a multi-mode design: by phone using live interviewers, by text, or online. Results for all adults (n=1,694) are statistically significant within ±2.8 percentage points. Results for registered voters (n=1,533) are statistically significant within ±3.0 percentage points.