America on the Edge: Polarisation Deepens as the Nation Questions Its Direction

Just weeks into Donald Trump’s second term, America finds itself at a crossroads, economically, diplomatically and ideologically. The new administration has wasted no time in enacting sweeping changes, including slashing foreign aid, slapping tariffs on allies and sidelining long-standing international commitments. While Trump’s base remains confident that the U.S. is finally prioritising itself, the rest of the country appears increasingly uneasy, unsure whether the nation is moving forward, or walking away from its values.

Right Direction or Wrong Track? A Nation Split

According to our latest polling, 40% of Americans believe the country is heading in the right direction, a figure unchanged since the last poll. However, those who say the U.S. is on the wrong track has risen to 50%, up from 48%, underscoring growing concern about the trajectory of Trump’s second term.

Among Trump 2024 voters, optimism is sky-high: 75% say the country is moving in the right direction, nearly identical to the previous 74%. But that optimism is not shared across the aisle. Just 12% of Kamala Harris voters agree, while a staggering 81% say the country is on the wrong track, a slight decline from 84% but still indicative of deep and unrelenting dissatisfaction.

This chasm is reinforced by voters who didn’t back either major candidate in 2024: only 16% say America is heading in the right direction and 57% believe it is on the wrong path.

Gender and Age Divides Persist

The divide is also visible across demographic lines. Men (44%) are more likely than women (36%) to believe the country is on the right track, though both figures have dropped slightly from the last wave. Women, in particular, appear unsettled by the administration’s more aggressive stance on issues like reproductive rights, social services and foreign policy.

Age also plays a role: only 37% of 18–24-year-olds believe the country is on the right path, compared to 43% of those aged 25–44 and 38% of those 65+. While older voters often skew more conservative, this figure suggests that even some traditional Republican-leaning demographics are growing uneasy, possibly due to the isolationist and economically disruptive tone of recent policy shifts.

Foreign Policy Anxieties: America Alone?

While economic nationalism has always been central to Trump’s rhetoric, his second-term agenda has accelerated dramatically. Tariffs have been raised on imports from Mexico, Canada, the EU and China, alienating trading partners and risking retaliation. At the same time, foreign aid has been slashed, USAID dismantled and multilateralism abandoned.

These moves may energise parts of Trump’s base but they are making many Americans uncomfortable. The decision to freeze military support for Ukraine and publicly humiliate President Zelenskyy while cosying up to Russia and backing controversial statements about Gaza has left even some supporters questioning the wisdom of a foreign policy rooted in isolation.

As a result, a growing portion of the public now fears the U.S. is turning its back not just on global responsibilities but also on the very alliances and values that have defined its role in the world since World War II.

Political Polarisation: The New Normal?

The sharp divide over America’s direction is mirrored by deepening concern about the country’s political polarisation. According to the latest data, 63% of Americans view polarisation as a major problem, nearly identical to the 64% recorded in the previous poll. Among Harris voters, that figure climbs to 77%, compared to 53% of Trump voters, indicating that while both sides acknowledge division, Democrats feel it more acutely.

Younger voters are slightly less likely to call polarisation a “major problem” (62% of 18–24s) compared to older voters (73% of those 65+), perhaps reflecting a generation more accustomed to division but also more flexible in navigating it.

Even among those who consider themselves independents or “didn’t vote” in 2024, concern is high: 50% see polarisation as a major issue, while 30% describe it as a minor one. Only 19% say it’s not a problem at all.

Donald Trump’s second term has unleashed a wave of policy changes unmatched in recent history, from cutting international aid and hiking tariffs to redrawing America’s place in the world order. While his base remains loyal and buoyed by the nationalist, “America First” agenda, most Americans are divided, or outright disillusioned.

The country is split not just in terms of approval ratings but in how people see the very future of the United States. One half believes the president is reclaiming sovereignty, restoring national pride and delivering long-overdue reforms. The other sees America isolating itself, undermining allies and straying dangerously from its founding principles.

Download the data tables for this poll.