AP-NORC Poll: Americans Doubt Trump Can Lower Costs in 2025/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ An AP-NORC poll reveals widespread skepticism about President-elect Donald Trump’s ability to lower costs for groceries, housing, and health care during his second term. While confidence in his job creation efforts is slightly higher, even many Republicans remain uncertain about immediate economic relief. Expectations for his second term show mixed sentiment across party lines.
Americans Skeptical of Trump’s Economic Goals: Quick Looks
- Low Confidence: Only 2 in 10 Americans believe Trump can lower costs effectively in 2025.
- Health Care Challenges: Confidence in addressing health care costs remains particularly low, even among Republicans.
- Jobs Outlook: 3 in 10 Americans are optimistic about Trump’s job creation efforts.
- Mixed Expectations: Republicans largely back Trump, while Democrats’ opposition is less intense than in 2020.
- Inflation Focus: 6 in 10 voters citing the economy as key supported Trump in 2024.
- Partisan Divide: Republicans predict a “great” second term, while Democrats’ fears are slightly reduced.
AP-NORC Poll: Americans Doubt Trump Can Lower Costs in 2025
Deep Look
As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to enter his second term, an AP-NORC poll reveals tempered expectations about his ability to address key economic challenges. Despite campaign promises to lower costs for essentials like groceries, housing, and health care, only 2 in 10 Americans express strong confidence in his ability to deliver in 2025.
Economic Pressures
Economic concerns dominated the 2024 presidential race, with inflation and rising costs fueling voter frustration. AP VoteCast data showed that 4 in 10 voters identified the economy as the top issue, and Trump secured 6 in 10 of those votes. However, the poll highlights public skepticism about the pace of economic relief under his leadership.
Fewer than half of Republicans are “very” confident in Trump’s ability to lower costs for essentials. Confidence in broader economic management fares slightly better, with about 7 in 10 Republicans expressing optimism. Nationwide, however, only one-third of Americans are “extremely” or “very” confident in Trump’s economic approach, while half report being “slightly” or “not at all” confident.
Health Care: A Weak Point
Health care emerges as a particular challenge for Trump. Just 16% of Americans believe he can meaningfully lower health care costs, with fewer than half of Republicans sharing that optimism. During his first term, Trump prioritized dismantling the Affordable Care Act but failed to propose concrete alternatives, leaving doubts about his approach to reform.
This skepticism persists as Trump prepares for his second term. While he has pledged to “revolutionize” health care, the absence of a detailed plan has left many Americans wary.
Partisan Perceptions
Trump continues to enjoy strong support from Republicans, with 8 in 10 rating him as a “great” or “good” president. About half of Republicans expect Trump to deliver an even more successful second term.
Democrats remain critical, though their opposition has softened slightly compared to 2020. Approximately 6 in 10 Democrats anticipate Trump will be a “terrible” president in his second term, down from three-quarters at the end of his first term.
Policy Areas Beyond Costs
Trump’s ability to handle issues like immigration and national security mirrors the mixed sentiment seen in his economic ratings. About one-third of Americans express confidence in his handling of these areas, while a majority remain unconvinced.
The poll reflects lingering doubts even among some of Trump’s supporters. For example, while he campaigned heavily on job creation, only 6 in 10 Republicans are highly confident in his ability to fulfill that promise.
Expectations for the Second Term
Despite these tempered expectations, Trump enters his second term with resilient favorability among his base. His support has weathered legal challenges, including multiple indictments and high-profile controversies. For many Republicans, Trump’s return to the White House signals renewed hope for conservative policies and economic reform.
Democrats, meanwhile, remain concerned but appear less alarmed than during his first presidency. This shift suggests a possible recalibration of partisan expectations heading into a politically charged second term.
Looking Ahead
As Trump takes office, the challenge lies in addressing economic pressures that have frustrated millions of Americans. While his supporters remain optimistic, delivering tangible progress on costs and job creation will be critical to maintaining public trust and achieving his ambitious goals for 2025.
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