Unpopularity of Trump's tariffs persists, yet growing tolerance within the Republican party emerges
In recent polls, public opinion on President Donald Trump's tariffs remains divided, with a significant portion of the general public expressing skepticism towards Trump's focus on tariffs. According to a CBS News-YouGov poll, 61% of Americans believe Trump is too focused on tariffs [1].
However, among Republicans, support for Trump’s tariffs has been growing. A shift in views among Republicans suggests that Trump's "leash" on this issue has lengthened [2]. In the Quinnipiac University poll, more than 8 in 10 Republicans believe the tariffs are likely to help the economy over the long term [3].
Republicans now view the short-term impact of tariffs more favorably, with 62% believing they will help compared to 30% who think they will harm [1][2]. This positive outlook among Republicans could potentially deter GOP lawmakers from challenging Trump on this issue [2].
The latest jobs report and Gallup polling indicate increasingly troubling economic numbers, with Trump's approval on "foreign trade" dropping from 42% in February to 36% in mid-July [4]. Despite these concerns, Republicans overwhelmingly express confidence in Trump's strategy on tariffs, with 84% saying it's working [3].
Notably, some foreign nations have cut apparent deals in response to Trump's tariffs [5]. However, there is uncertainty about whether Trump's tactics will ultimately work, and some judges are suggesting they could rein in Trump's tariff authorities [6].
Fox News polling shows Americans disapprove of Trump on tariffs by a 26-point margin [7]. The CBS data also show a slight drop in the percentage of Americans who think Trump's policies are making them better off financially and an increase in perceptions that his policies are making food prices increase [1].
In summary, while the general public remains mostly critical or uncertain about Trump’s tariffs and their economic impact, Republican support has strengthened, with most Republicans believing the tariffs are beneficial and that Trump's strategy is effective [1][2][3]. The White House could face some hard choices if the economic numbers look suspect, particularly if Republicans respond negatively.
[1] CBS News-YouGov Poll, August 2025 [2] The Hill, August 2025 [3] Quinnipiac University Poll, July 2025 [4] Gallup Poll, July 2025 [5] Reuters, August 2025 [6] Washington Post, August 2025 [7] Fox News Poll, August 2025
- The combination of growing Republican support and the belief that tariffs will help the economy over the long term has lengthened President Trump's 'leash' on the tariffs issue.
- Among Republicans, there is widespread confidence in Trump's strategy on tariffs, with a majority believing it is working.
- Despite Republican confidence in Trump's tariff strategy, American public opinion on tariffs remains divided, with the majority expressing skepticism towards Trump's focus on this issue.
- Concerns about the economic impact of tariffs, as shown by rising food prices and a drop in Trump's approval on foreign trade, are prevalent in general news and discussions on personal finance and business.
