The Trump Administration, January 2025

Americans Divide About Mass Deportations, But More Than Six in Ten Oppose Pardon of January 6th Convictions

With days until President-elect Donald Trump takes the Oath of Office, Americans are divided about Trump’s proposed mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. However, more than six in ten Americans disapprove of Trump pardoning those convicted in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Americans also have high expectations for Trump on the economic front. While many Americans feel the current economy is not working well for them, residents nationally have grown more optimistic about the future of their own finances. In fact, the proportion of Americans with an optimistic view of their financial picture is the highest in over a decade. And as President Joe Biden prepares to leave office, he does so with a job approval rating in the low 40s and tarnished impressions of his legacy.

Mass Deportations of Undocumented Immigrants
How much do you support or oppose the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants:
NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll National Adults. Interviews conducted January 7th through January 9th, 2025, n=1,387 MOE +/- 3.2 percentage points. Totals may not add to 100% due to rounding.
  • 49% of Americans support or strongly support the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, and 49% oppose or strongly oppose these deportations.
  • While 74% of Democrats are against mass deportations, 79% of Republicans are in favor of them. Of note, 53% of Republicans say they strongly support the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. Independents divide (50% support to 49% oppose).
  • Men (55%) are more likely than women (45%) to support removing undocumented immigrants from the United States. Generationally, majorities of Gen X (53%), Baby Boomers (52%), and the Silent/Greatest Generation (54%) support mass deportations. In contrast, a majority of Gen Z/Millennials (54%) oppose this action.
  • 62% of Americans disapprove of Trump pardoning people who were convicted of attacking the Capitol on January 6, 2021. 35% approve of the pardons.
  • 89% of Democrats, 62% of independents, and even 30% of Republicans disapprove of pardoning individuals convicted for their actions in the attack on the U.S. Capitol. 64% of Republicans approve of the pardons. Notably, women (69%) are more likely than men (55%) to disapprove of pardoning these individuals.
  • 59% of Americans, including 84% of Democrats and 61% of independents, believe the events of January 6, 2021 were an insurrection meant to overthrow a free and fair election. 38% of U.S. residents, including 61% of Republicans, believe the events of the day were protests by patriots to stop a stolen election.

Americans with High Economic Expectations of Trump

59% of Americans, up from 29% in February 2020, say the economy is not working well for them right now. 39%, though, say the economy is working well for them. While 54% of Democrats believe the current economy benefits them, 73% of Republicans and 57% of independents say the economy is not working well.

Women (64%) are more likely than men (54%) to say the economy has worked in their favor. Younger generations are more likely than their older counterparts to say the economy is not working well: Gen Z/Millennials with 63%, Gen X with 60%, Baby Boomers with 52%, and the Silent/Greatest Generation with 45%.

However, a plurality of Americans (44%), including 63% of Republicans, think their family finances will improve in the upcoming year. This is an increase from 33% in December 2023 and is the highest proportion of Americans who are optimistic about their finances since this question was first asked in 2009.

22% of residents nationally believe their financial situation will worsen next year and 34% report it will stay about the same.

Americans under 45 (52%) are more likely than older residents (37%) to expect an improvement in their finances during the first year of Trump’s administration. While a majority of men (52%) think their finances will see an upswing, only 36% of women say the same. 37% of women expect their finances to stay the same, and 27% say they will worsen.

Nearly Half of Americans Say Tariffs on Imports Will Harm U.S. Economy

48% of Americans think placing tariffs or fees on products imported from other countries generally hurts the national economy. 31% believe it helps the U.S. economy, and 18% think tariffs do not make much difference.

57% of Republicans think the fees will benefit the U.S. economy, while 71% of Democrats and 49% of independents say tariffs will be detrimental to the economy’s health. An additional 22% of independents say imposing import tariffs will not matter much.

Trump Favorable Rating Upside Down… Many Appointment Picks Little Known

44% of Americans have a favorable view of President-elect Trump. 49% have an unfavorable opinion of him. Seven percent are unsure.

When looking at the favorability ratings of some of Trump’s Cabinet selections and his choices for other positions in his administration, notable proportions of Americans have either never heard of these individuals or are unsure how to rate them.

  • 19% of Americans have a favorable opinion of Pete Hegseth. 26% have an unfavorable opinion of him, and 55% have never heard of Hegseth or are unsure how to rate him.
  • 25% have a favorable view of Marco Rubio, 34% have a negative view, and 41% have never heard of Rubio or are unsure how to rate him.
  • 37% have a favorable opinion of Elon Musk. 46% have an unfavorable opinion of Musk, and 17% have never heard of Musk or are unsure how to rate him.
  • 40% of Americans have a positive impression of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 37% have an unfavorable opinion of Kennedy, and 23% have never heard of him or are unsure how to rate him.

More Than One in Three Think Biden will be Remembered as One of the Worst U.S. Presidents

34% of Americans say President Biden will be remembered as one of the worst presidents in U.S. history. 19% say he will be considered a below-average president, and 28% say his legacy will be average. Fewer than one in five Americans say Biden will be regarded as an above-average president (14%) or one of the nation’s best presidents (5%).
When comparing Americans’ impressions of President Biden’s time in office to their views of Trump’s performance at the end of his first term, the differences occur at the extremes. More Americans (47%) thought Trump would be remembered as one of the nation’s worst presidents compared with Biden (34%), as well as one of the nation’s best (Trump 16% to Biden 5%).

Biden’s Final Job Approval Rating Clocks in at 42%

42% of Americans approve of Joe Biden’s job as president, 50% disapprove of how he is doing, and 9% are unsure. Americans are more than twice as likely to strongly disapprove of how Biden is doing his job (37%) than to strongly approve (18%).

Methodology

This survey of U.S. adults was conducted by the Marist Poll from January 7th through January 9th, 2025. 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=1,387) are statistically significant within ±3.2 percentage points. Results for registered voters (n=1,221) are statistically significant within ±3.4 percentage points.