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Polls, Analysis, Learning, and More [1]

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Date: 2025-03

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.

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[1] Url: https://maristpoll.marist.edu/polls/the-state-of-the-union-march-2025/

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