A majority of Americans now say they believe President Donald Trump fits the description of a “dangerous dictator,” according to new polling.
Why It Matters
Trump swept back into office carrying a large amount of political clout after Republicans won all three branches of government. He carried positive poll numbers and Americans approved of him on key issues like immigration and the economy.
As Trump’s approval ratings have slipped, including slumping numbers on his handling of the economy, the poll underscores an erosion of support and suggests that Trump’s confrontational style, once viewed as strength, could now be becoming a threat to his political capital.
Alex Brandon/AP
What To Know
A majority of Americans in the poll described Trump not as a strong leader, but as a “dangerous dictator whose power should be limited before he destroys American democracy,” according they survey from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI).
The poll, conducted from February 28 to March 20 among 5,025 adults, found that 52 percent of Americans agreed with that statement, while 44 percent said they see Trump as “a strong leader who should be given the power he needs to restore America’s greatness.”
The numbers were split clearly across partisan lines with 87 percent of Democrats calling Trump as a threat to democracy, while 81 percent of Republicans said they think he is a strong leader. Independents leaned toward the threat, with 56 percent labeling Trump dangerous and 42 percent calling him strong.
The poll also carries signs of erosion within Trump’s base. Among voters who once supported Trump but say they now regret it, 55 percent said they view him a dangerous dictator. That number climbs to 68 percent among nonvoters who regret not participating in the election. Among all nonvoters, a majority—54 percent—now see Trump as a threat to democracy.
Religious identity is another major fault line. Trump retains strong backing from white Christian groups, with 73 percent of white evangelical Protestants, 66 percent of Latter-day Saints, and majorities of white Catholics and white mainline Protestants saying he should be empowered as a strong leader. In contrast, Christians of color, non-Christian groups, and the religiously unaffiliated overwhelmingly view him as a dangerous authoritarian figure. That includes 71 percent of Black Protestants, 69 percent of Hispanic Catholics, and 65 percent of unaffiliated Americans.
Racial and educational divides were similar. The majorities of Black (67 percent), Hispanic (63 percent), Asian American/Pacific Islander (58 percent), and multiracial Americans (56 percent) said they see Trump as a threat. White Americans are more divided—51 percent support his leadership, while 45 percent view him as dangerous. Among whites without a four-year degree, support for Trump was at 57 percent, while 56 percent of college-educated whites call him a dangerous dictator.
Younger generations are also more likely to express concern. Except for the Silent Generation, at least half of every age group—including baby boomers, Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z—see Trump as a threat to democracy. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 1.6 percentage points.
The poll’s release comes amid slumping approval ratings for Trump 100 days into his second term. According to a CNN poll conducted April 17 to April 24, Trump now holds the lowest approval rating of any modern president at this point in their term—lower even than his own standing during the same period in 2017.
Much of the recent dip is tied to Americans’ view of Trump on the economy.
His April 2 rollout of sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs triggered a market crash before a partial recovery days later. The PRRI survey found that 65 percent of Americans—93 percent of Democrats and 34 percent of Republicans—oppose the new tariffs, even if they might protect U.S. jobs, citing concerns about rising consumer prices. Just 31 percent support the policy. Trump enacted the tariffs using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a 1970s law that allows the president to regulate commerce during a national emergency. Legal scholars and lawmakers have argued the law was misapplied, and a coalition of a dozen states is suing the administration, asserting that only Congress can impose such tariffs.
Trump’s broader attempts to consolidate power have also triggered a number of legal challenges. Since returning to office, his administration has fired thousands of federal workers in an effort to shrink the government, relying on the reimplementation of “Schedule F”—a controversial executive order Trump first introduced in 2020 to strip job protections from civil servants. Though President Joe Biden rescinded the order in 2021, Trump revived it on his first day back in office. Lawsuits argue the move violates constitutional principles, particularly the separation of powers, by sidelining Congress’s authority over federal employment. Despite ongoing litigation, the mass layoffs continue.
According to the PRRI poll, 55 percent of Americans—including 85 percent of Democrats and 27 percent of Republicans—believe Trump has overstepped his authority by ordering mass firings across multiple agencies.
What Happens Next
Legal battles over Trump’s use of executive power are ongoing.