Donald Trump won the election in part because voters endorsed his broadly stated goals, if not his specific policies. As I argued here a few weeks ago though, the worm is turning on the president. That’s partly because Americans fear he’s gone too far.
Voters wanted a president who would be “tougher” on immigration. But as I reported, they rejected Trump’s plan to deport everyone who is here illegally.
The courts have now intervened in some immigration cases and, as concerned as many voters are about the border, most are unwilling to yield total control over the issue to Trump.
As courts enjoined some of the president’s actions, a Yahoo/YouGov poll found only 32 percent saying it was right for Trump to ignore a judge’s order to turn around planes bearing immigrants being expelled, so the court could review the case. Fifty-four percent said Trump went too far, that it was wrong of him not to comply with the judge’s order.
Responses in an Ipsos poll were similar — 56 percent said the Trump administration should halt deportations until they are allowed by the courts.
Trump then went further, labeling the judge in question a “lunatic” and demanding he be impeached. Just 26 percent went as far as Trump, agreeing that the judge deserved impeachment, while 55 percent believed Trump went too far and that the judge should not be impeached.
This case is, of course, part of a broader debate about the relative authority of the President — the executive — as against the judicial branch. Only 14 percent in the Ipsos survey said presidents should not obey court orders if they don’t want to. Eighty-two percent, including 68 percent of Republicans, say the president should follow court orders. Ignoring court orders goes too far for most Americans.
More broadly, by 57 percent to 40 percent, voters believe Trump has gone “beyond his authority as president,” instead of acting within his authority. Nearly two-thirds of independents (62 percent) share the view that this president has exceeded his authority.
Fox News found 68 percent at least very concerned that “Trump’s use of executive orders and acting without Congressional approval may be permanently altering our country’s system of checks and balances.”
As I’ve discussed here before, voters favor reducing government spending generally (while opposing cuts in almost every specific category). A recent Fox News poll found 57 percent saying at least a great deal of federal spending is wasteful and inefficient.
Indeed, the majority support the idea of a federal agency dedicated to cutting spending.
But the public dislikes the Department of Government Efficiency. It’s gone too far.
By 11 points Americans disapprove of the way DOGE is cutting spending. Two-thirds are at least very concerned “that not enough thought and planning has gone into the government spending cuts.”
A Quinnipiac poll found Americans saying DOGE was hurting rather than helping the country by a 14-point margin. To take just one example, by 60 percent-33 percent voters oppose Trump’s plan to shutter the Department of Education.
Voters did want Trump to fix an economy they thought was not working for them. But the public believes he is going about it the wrong way.
Tariffs are Trump’s fix. Yet 55 percent of Americans told CBS News pollsters the president is focusing “too much,” on tariffs. An even larger 72 percent think tariffs will increase prices, while voters are focused on how to hold down the cost of living.
Analysts repeat endlessly that Trump won because of immigration, the economy and the deficit. The president is working in each of these areas, but he’s gone too far. Trump’s extremism, his narcissism and his disregard for democratic norms are alienating Americans and squandering what support he had.
Mellman is president of The Mellman Group a political consultancy. Mellman served as pollster to Senate Democratic leaders for over 20 years. He is also president of Democratic Majority for Israel.