The immigration issue helped return President Donald Trump to the White House in 2024. Trump offered solutions, but the Biden Administration and Democrats didn’t. Now, the Minnesota incidents and the Trump Administration’s messaging have put this issue back in the headlines daily. Trump’s approval numbers have taken a hit as a result, according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll.
By The Numbers:
Today only 39% of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of immigration and 53% disapprove.
Fifty-eight percent of Americans said that ICE’s efforts to address illegal immigration “go too far,” while 26% said ICE’s efforts “are about right,” and 13% said they are “not enough.”
When looking at the party breakdown, 20% of Republicans, 92% of Democrats and 63% of Americans who identify with “other” political parties said ICE goes too far. Fifty-five percent of Republicans, 5% of Democrats, and 20% of other parties said ICE’s efforts are about right. Twenty-three percent of Republicans, 3% of Democrats, and 11% of other parties said ICE’s efforts are not enough.
The Bottom Line: The president’s recent statements and discussions with Democratic leaders in Minnesota are signs that he and others in the West Wing are aware that the administration has a problem when it comes to immigration. The Trump Administration is losing the public’s trust on immigration because of bad messaging and unforced errors. The president and his team have a small window to recalibrate. Sending border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota is a good first step. Fixing the messaging and changing tactics on the ground will help restore the public’s confidence.
