A Nation Divided on Tariffs: Support Slips as Economic Anxiety Rises

As Donald Trump doubles down on tariffs to reshape the U.S. economy, our new poll reveals a complex and often conflicted public response. While many Americans continue to support tariffs in principle, there is deep concern about their economic consequences both nationally and personally. The data also reflects a persistent belief that the economy is moving in the wrong direction, underscoring growing unease about the country’s future.

The issue of tariffs has dominated Trump’s second term, culminating in April’s so-called “Liberation Day,” when sweeping new tariffs unveiled a blanket 10% on imports from around the world, with even higher rates for key trading partners like China, the EU and India. On the 8th May, the UK and U.S. announced the first renegotiated tariff deal of this new era, easing some of the most punishing measures on UK car, steel and aluminium exports. Trump has hailed this as the first of many “major” agreements to come. For now, voters remain doubtful but it’ll be interesting to track their faith in the Trump administration’s bold strategy if more deals are made.

Strong Opposition and Growing Skepticism

The latest poll shows that only 29% of Americans support Trump’s tariffs aimed at shielding U.S. industries from foreign competition and just 23% believe tariffs have a positive impact overall. In contrast, 52% oppose the measures, including 35% who strongly oppose them, while 59% believe tariffs are harming the U.S. economy (up from 52% previously).

Opposition is hardening. Among 18–24-year-olds, strong opposition jumped from 28% to 37% and among Harris voters (Democrats), it increased from 54% to 64%. Even within Trump’s 2024 voter base, where 28% strongly support and 27% somewhat support tariffs, skepticism is creeping in: the majority (40%) now say tariffs are hurting the economy, up from 34%.

Gender and age splits reveal further nuance. Men (17% strongly support) are more favourable than women (12%), while young voters (18–24) remain particularly skeptical with just 11% strongly supporting tariffs, while 37% strongly oppose them.

Jobs, Industries and Global Trade Tensions

Beyond personal and national economics, Americans are divided over tariffs’ long-term effects on jobs and industries. While 34% believe tariffs help preserve U.S. industries, 46% believe they are actively harming them. Even among Trump’s base, while 32% say tariffs somewhat preserve jobs, 15% believe they somewhat harm domestic industries, a notable sign of internal conflict. Harris voters remain sharply critical, with 48% saying tariffs strongly harm industries and just 8% believing they help.

Concerns have also risen about retaliatory tariffs from countries like China and the EU, which have already announced countermeasures. A combined 67% of Americans express moderate to extreme concern that retaliation could hurt U.S. exports and farmers (up from 64%). Even Trump’s core supporters are uneasy: 51% express moderate to extreme concern about global backlash. Harris voters are even more anxious, with 45% extremely concerned and 27% very concerned.

Trade Wars, Diplomacy and Public Patience

Tariffs are increasingly seen not just as an economic issue but as a threat to America’s global standing. 65% of Americans say they are at least moderately concerned that tariffs could damage long-standing diplomatic and strategic alliances. Among Harris voters, 48% are extremely concerned and another 23% are very concerned. Even Trump voters, though less alarmed, register significant worry, with 23% moderately concerned.

The public is also divided over whether short-term pain such as higher prices or job losses is worth it for the supposed long-term benefits. 33% of Americans agree that the trade-offs are justified, while 39% disagree. Trump’s base is more willing to accept the sacrifice (33% somewhat agree and 22% strongly agree), whereas 41% of Harris voters strongly disagree, highlighting deep partisan skepticism.

Taxes vs. Tariffs

Americans remain divided over how best to support U.S. industries. When asked whether they’d rather face higher prices from tariffs or higher income taxes, 24% said tariffs concern them more, 19% said tax hikes worry them more and 46% said both are equally concerning. Trump voters are slightly more concerned about taxes (28% vs. 18% worried about higher prices), while Harris voters lean toward fearing increased product prices (30% vs. 11% concerned about taxes).

This tension is emblematic of the broader debate about how to protect U.S. industries in a globalised economy, whether through protective tariffs or increased domestic investment funded by taxes.

National Mood: Americans Remain Pessimistic

Amid these debates, the national mood remains skeptical. Only 40% of Americans believe the country is on the right track (unchanged from earlier polling), while 51% say the U.S. is on the wrong track, up slightly from previous poll. This partisan divide is stark: 73% of Trump voters believe the country is headed in the right direction, while 85% of Harris voters say it’s not.

Conclusion

While tariffs continue to enjoy support among his core base, cracks are forming as concerns grow about their real-world impact. Economic anxiety is deepening and the public is far from convinced that tariffs alone can secure a stable and prosperous future.

Trump has promised that the UK’s new tariff deal, hailed as a model for further negotiations, marks the beginning of a global “reset” of U.S. trade. Yet, for many Americans, the stakes are closer to home: if economic conditions worsen or tariff-driven price hikes hit hard, even Trump’s most loyal supporters may begin to question whether the short-term pain is worth the gamble. For now, tariffs remain a defining and divisive pillar of Trump’s economic agenda but whether they deliver lasting gains or lasting damage remains to be seen.

Download the data tables for this poll.