Trump’s Second Term Begins: Economy and Immigration Dominate Voter Priorities

As Donald Trump begins his second term as President of the United States, our latest US poll shows that the economy remains the dominant issue for American voters, with 68% citing it as one of their top three concerns. Concerns over the rising cost of living, especially basic expenses like medical bills is perhaps the reason Healthcare follows as the second most pressing issue at 39%. Meanwhile, 35% of voters view Immigration as a priority, reflecting growing unease about border security and migration policy.

Gender, Age and Voting Patterns Shape Policy Priorities

The results highlight clear demographic divides in issue prioritisation. While both men (68%) and women (67%) view the economy as their top concern, immigration is far more important to men (37%) than to women (32%). Meanwhile, healthcare concerns are more prominent among women (41%) than men (38%).

In terms of age, younger voters (18-24) are significantly less likely to prioritise the economy (56%) compared to older demographics, where over 70% of voters aged 35-64 view it as their primary concern. Instead, younger voters place greater emphasis on social issues, with 40% citing abortion as a key concern, the highest percentage among any age group. The environment also ranks higher among younger voters, with 31% of 18-24s and 25% of 25-34s considering it a priority.

For Trump voters, the overwhelming concerns are the economy (74%) and immigration (54%), whereas Harris voters also care about the economy (63%) but place much stronger emphasis on healthcare (47%), abortion (33%) and the environment (28%). These results suggest that the Republican base is largely aligned with Trump’s campaign messaging on border security and economic recovery, while Democrats remain focused on social policies as well as the economy.

The First 100 Days Priority: The Economy

Since coming into power, President Trump has grabbed international headlines by signing more executive orders in his first 10 days than any recent president has in their first 100 days. From culture to science and energy, Trump has signed over 50 orders to prove to Americans that he means business but the one issue which Americans want him to prioritise in his first 100 days is the economy and jobs (39%). While GDP growth remained positive during Joe Biden’s reign, rising housing costs, persistent inflation and stagnant wage growth for working-class Americans have fueled public discontent. Therefore, in the 2024 election, voters rejected Biden’s claim that the U.S. economy was the “strongest in the world” and instead opted for Trump’s assessment that the current economy is a “cesspool of ruin” in need of urgent intervention.

One of his most controversial executive orders was placing a 25% tariff on all goods imported from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tariff on goods from China. Whilst tariffs are central to Trump’s economic vision, seeing them as a way of growing the U.S. economy, protecting jobs and generating tax revenue, economists are projecting the proposed tariffs to have a negative impact for all income groups.

The President is also in favour of deregulation, tax cuts and AI-driven productivity growth but these proposals could either stimulate economic expansion or exacerbate long-term fiscal instability. Market forecasts range from 1.5% to 2.7% GDP growth in 2025, reflecting uncertainty about the sustainability of the administration’s economic agenda.

The First 100 Days Priority: Immigration

Meanwhile, 29% of Americans say immigration should be the immediate focus and Trump has certainly responded to that demand. On his first day he invoked the National Emergencies Act (NEA) citing a national crisis on the U.S. Southern border and since then he has ramped up arrests, terminated temporary legal protections, suspended refugee admissions and restarted migrant detention at Guantanamo Bay. In fact, even though the tariffs were central to his economic policy, the justification for them was to force Canada and Mexico to tighten up their borders and crack down on illegal immigration and drug trafficking into the U.S.

However, Trump’s immigration crackdowns could shrink the U.S. labor force, as undocumented immigrants have accounted for 88% of net labor growth in recent years. If workforce shortages persist, productivity growth could stagnate, further exacerbating economic uncertainty.

As Trump’s second term begins, the economy and immigration dominate the political landscape, shaping both public concerns and his early policy actions. While 39% of voters expect economic recovery to be the administration’s top priority, Trump’s aggressive tariff policies and deregulatory approach create both opportunities and risks for growth. Meanwhile, 29% of Americans demand immediate action on immigration, a call Trump has answered with sweeping executive orders targeting border security. With economic uncertainty looming, Trump’s success in addressing these key economic issues will define his administration’s trajectory in the years ahead.

Download the data tables for this poll.