New poll shows how Americans' sentiments on Trump changed in 2025

2025 Year in Review: Political Reactions & Policy Impacts - CBS News Analysis

Key Concepts:

• Trump Administration (2025): Initial optimism regarding campaign promises, followed by concerns over economic costs and inflation.
• Economic Ratings: Consistently low ratings of the US economy throughout 2025, dating back to 2020.
• Doge Cuts & Tariff Policies: Highly partisan reactions, with differing views on short-term and long-term price impacts.
• Immigration Policies & Deportation Program: Strong partisan divide, with Republican approval driven by perceived effectiveness and Democrats’ concerns about the scale of deportations.
• Government Shutdown & Elections (Fall 2025): Nationalized contests influenced by redistricting battles and financial anxieties.
• Cost of Living/Inflation: A dominant concern for Americans throughout the year, impacting presidential approval and election outcomes.

I. Initial Reactions to the Trump Administration & Economic Sentiment

The beginning of 2025 saw a significant portion of the population believing the new Trump administration was fulfilling its campaign promises. This was coupled with initial optimism regarding the future of the US economy. However, this positive sentiment quickly shifted as concerns about rising costs and prices began to dominate public discourse. A February poll indicated persistent anxieties about increasing prices, a trend that continued throughout the year.

CBS News polling revealed a disconnect between the administration’s messaging and public perception. While the administration aimed to portray a positive economic outlook, many Americans felt the focus on lowering prices was insufficient. US economy ratings remained consistently low, with a majority of Americans not considering the economy to be “good” – a sentiment not seen since 2020. Presidential approval ratings for handling the economy reflected this, starting at 51% and gradually declining throughout the year, directly linked to the perceived lack of focus on cost control and inflation. Anthony Svanto, CBS News executive director of elections and surveys, emphasized that this issue will likely remain central in 2026, with continued public demand for attention to costs and inflation.

II. Partisan Divides on Doge Cuts & Tariff Policies

The implementation of Doge cuts and tariff policies in 2025 triggered significant partisan divisions. Republicans were more likely to support Doge cuts, while Democrats expressed less enthusiasm. Regarding tariffs, a key debate centered on their impact on prices – both in the short and long term.

A March poll revealed that many Americans anticipated tariffs would increase prices, a view that persisted throughout the year. While Republicans believed tariffs would stimulate manufacturing job growth in the US, this perspective was also heavily influenced by partisan affiliation. Overall, these policies were not widely popular. The administration argued tariffs were a long-term economic play, but public perception remained skeptical.

III. Immigration Policies & the Deportation Program: A Deepening Partisan Rift

The summer of 2025 was marked by protests surrounding the administration’s immigration policies and deportation program. This issue highlighted a particularly stark partisan divide. Republicans demonstrated strong approval of the deportation program, while Democrats expressed significant disapproval. Independents were split.

Svanto noted that, for many Republicans, the president’s handling of immigration became a primary evaluation metric, even surpassing economic concerns. Public opinion on the program was heavily influenced by perceptions of its scale. Individuals who believed the program was deporting more people than expected were more likely to disapprove, while those who thought it was deporting fewer or the same amount were more likely to approve. This suggests that framing and public perception of the program’s scope were crucial determinants of public support.

IV. Fall Elections & the Government Shutdown: Nationalized Politics & Financial Concerns

The fall of 2025 saw a government shutdown and several key elections, including a California ballot measure (Prop 50). These events were characterized by a high degree of nationalization, with issues transcending local concerns. Exit polls from the California elections revealed that voters who supported Prop 50 did so, in part, to counter perceived changes being implemented by Republicans in other states.

Redistricting battles were unusually prominent during the year, occurring mid-decade rather than after the census, adding another layer of political complexity. Financial concerns also played a significant role in the elections, with voters expressing anxieties about their personal financial situations. By December, fewer Americans reported feeling financially better off, although there was a slight increase in optimism heading into 2026. Svanto highlighted that the cost of living remained a dominant theme throughout the year and is expected to be a key issue in the upcoming 2026 elections.

V. Notable Quotes

• Anthony Svanto: "…people looking for that focus on costs and inflation." (Regarding the ongoing importance of economic concerns in 2026)
• Anthony Svanto: "This was a policy Republicans really liked and in many ways throughout the year Republicans told us that this was the way they were evaluating the the president more so in many cases than on the economy…" (Highlighting the prioritization of immigration policy by Republican voters)

VI. Technical Terms & Concepts

• Partisanship: Strong allegiance to a particular political party, often leading to polarized views on policy issues.
• Redistricting: The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries, often occurring after a census to reflect population changes. Mid-decade redistricting is unusual and often politically motivated.
• Exit Polls: Surveys conducted immediately after voters have cast their ballots, providing insights into voting motivations and demographics.
• Prop 50 (California): A specific ballot measure passed in California, used as a case study to illustrate the nationalized nature of political contests.

Conclusion:

2025 was a year defined by political polarization, economic anxieties, and shifting public perceptions. The Trump administration began with initial optimism but faced growing criticism over rising costs and inflation. Policy decisions regarding tariffs and immigration triggered deep partisan divides, while the fall elections underscored the increasing nationalization of political contests. The cost of living emerged as a dominant concern for Americans, influencing both presidential approval ratings and election outcomes, and is poised to remain a central issue in 2026. The CBS News polling data provides a detailed and nuanced understanding of these trends, highlighting the importance of public perception and the enduring power of partisan affiliation in shaping political discourse.