Solid majority of Americans oppose Trump's Muslim ban, new poll finds
A solid majority of Americans, 57 percent, oppose Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump's plan for a "total and complete shutdown" of Muslims entering the U.S., with 46 percent saying they strongly oppose it, according to a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll. Only 25 percent of respondents favored the plan, but the split was more even among Republican primary voters — 39 percent opposed it and 38 percent supported it (27 percent strongly supported it; 23 percent strongly opposed it). A Bloomberg poll released Wednesday found support for Trump's plan at 65 percent among Republicans.
The controversial anti-Muslim proposal hasn't changed Trump's favorability numbers much since the last WSJ/NBC poll in late October — among all respondents, 59 percent view him negatively (including nearly half who view him very negatively), while 27 percent view him favorably. Among GOP primary voters, a bare majority, 51 percent, view Trump favorably, versus 26 percent who see him negatively.
Peter Hart, the Democratic pollster who helps oversee the survey, compared Trump to America's 40th president. "Donald Trump has been the most successful candidate in driving the dialogue and defining the stakes since Ronald Reagan in 1980," he said. "The party elite fears him, the public is transfixed by him, and the core Trump voter reveres him. The Trump candidacy has defied political logic and the gravity of civil discourse."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Along with the partisan split, there are big age and gender gaps regarding Trump. Young people were less likely to have positive feelings about him (19 percent, age 18-34), versus 35 percent of those 50 to 64 and 32 percent of those 65 and up. Women are similarly less inclined to view Trump favorably, 22 percent, versus men, 32 percent. The poll was conducted Dec. 6-9 among 1,000 adults, with a margin of error of ± 3.1 points; the questions on Trump's Muslim visit ban were asked Dec. 8-9 and have a margin of error of ± 4.4 points. You can read more at The Wall Street Journal and NBC News.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Nigeria's worsening rate of maternal mortality
Under the radar Economic crisis is making hospitals unaffordable, with women increasingly not receiving the care they need
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Elevating Earth Day into a national holiday is not radical — it's practical'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
UAW scores historic win in South at VW plant
Speed Read Volkswagen workers in Tennessee have voted to join the United Auto Workers union
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine cheers House approval of military aid
Speed Read Following a lengthy struggle, the House has approved $95 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spies
Speed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claims
Speed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claims
Speed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aid
Speed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picks
Speed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published