President Donald Trump is still the heavyweight champ when it comes to public trust on immigration, according to a fresh poll that’s got the left squirming, as Daily Mail reports. A recent survey by Reuters/Ipsos, conducted between September 19 and 21, 2025, shows Trump commanding a solid 42% support on this hot-button issue. That’s a number that should make progressive policymakers rethink their open-border daydreams.
Here’s the crux: the poll of 1,016 Americans reveals Trump outshining former President Joe Biden on key concerns like immigration and the economy, while Republicans generally hold the upper hand over Democrats on most voter priorities.
Let’s rewind a bit to December 2024, when Biden’s approval on immigration languished at a measly 26%. Compare that to Trump’s robust 42% now, and it’s clear who Americans trust to secure the nation’s borders.
By early 2025, a whopping 50% of Americans backed Trump’s mass deportation policies, a figure from a February to March survey that underscores his hardline appeal. It’s no surprise, then, that immigration remains his top issue in the public eye. The administration’s continued push for large-scale deportations shows they’re not backing down.
An image from January 26, 2025, of a man detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Chicago, Illinois, paints a stark picture of these policies in action. For many, it’s a necessary step to restore order; for others, a tough pill to swallow.
On the economy, Trump started strong with a 43% approval rating upon taking office, though it’s slipped to 35% in the latest poll. Still, that’s a hair better than Biden’s dismal 34% from December 2024. Americans seem to trust Trump’s instincts over Biden’s track record, even if the margin is tighter than a budget under inflation.
Speaking of inflation, August 2025 saw the unemployment rate spike to 4.3%, a nearly four-year peak, while prices kept climbing. No wonder 54% of poll respondents now say the economy is on the wrong track, up from 52% in July. Trump’s recent tariff hikes on nearly every country might be a bold play, but they’re not calming these jitters.
Trump’s overall approval has dipped slightly, from 42% a few weeks ago to 41% now, per the Reuters/Ipsos data. Yet, even with this small slide, he still outpaces Biden’s end-of-term numbers. That’s a testament to a base that hasn’t abandoned ship, despite rough economic seas.
Now, let’s talk party lines—Republicans are crushing it on most key issues, trusted more than Democrats on seven out of eleven topics in the poll. From crime, where the GOP leads by a hefty 20 points, to foreign conflicts and corruption, Americans see conservatives as the steadier hand. Trump’s deployment of troops to troubled U.S. cities only reinforces that tough-on-crime image.
Even on gun control and political extremism, the GOP holds the edge, according to the survey. Democrats, to their credit, retain trust in healthcare, women’s rights, and environmental concerns, but those aren’t the issues driving voters to the polls right now.
Listen to this gem from Alyssa Farah Griffin, former White House communications director under Trump, on a recent episode of The View: “On the top issues people voted on, they still trust Republicans more.” Well, Alyssa, that’s no shock when progressive policies often seem more about virtue signaling than solving real problems. The numbers don’t lie—Americans want results, not rhetoric.
Even with some softening on immigration and economic trust, Trump’s base remains firmer than Biden’s ever was at the end of his term. That’s a signal to Republicans: double down on border security and kitchen-table concerns.
Looking ahead, forecasters see Republicans potentially losing their slim House majority in the 2026 midterms, though they’re expected to cling to Senate control. Betting markets earlier in 2025 also pegged Vice President JD Vance as a rising star for future political prospects. It’s a mixed bag, but the GOP’s grip on core issues could keep them in the fight.
At the end of the day, this poll is a wake-up call for those pushing a softer stance on borders or fiscal policy. Trump’s immigration focus isn’t just popular—it’s a blueprint for Republican strategy moving forward. If they play their cards right, the trust Americans place in them on these defining issues could shape the political landscape for years to come.
