35%
Approve tariffs
58%
Oppose tariffs
−23
Net approval
72%
Expect higher prices
Key Findings
- Only 35% approve of Trump's 2025 tariff package — the lowest approval for any major U.S. tariff policy in modern polling history (2018 steel tariffs peaked at 42%)
- 72% expect higher prices from the tariffs — a bipartisan concern that crosses party lines
- Independents oppose tariffs 63 to 28 (net −35) — nearly as strongly as Democrats
- Farm state residents oppose tariffs 55 to 38 despite being a core Republican constituency — driven by retaliatory tariffs on soybean, corn, and pork exports
- Tariff opposition is a key driver of the generic ballot shift from D+1.2 at inauguration to D+6.2 by April 2026
Tariff Approval by Group
Opposition to the tariffs cuts across party lines at the margins, with independents and lower-income voters most opposed. Even among Republicans, a meaningful minority disapproves.
| Group | Approve | Oppose | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Adults | 35% | 58% | −23 |
| Republicans | 68% | 24% | +44 |
| Independents | 28% | 63% | −35 |
| Democrats | 9% | 88% | −79 |
| Income under $50K | 27% | 66% | −39 |
| Income $50K–$100K | 33% | 60% | −27 |
| Income over $100K | 41% | 52% | −11 |
| Rural voters | 42% | 50% | −8 |
| Suburban voters | 31% | 62% | −31 |
| Urban voters | 22% | 72% | −50 |
| Farm state residents | 38% | 55% | −17 |
| College graduates | 28% | 66% | −38 |
Historical Tariff Approval Comparison
| Tariff Policy | Year | President | Peak Approval | Peak Opposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Broad Tariffs (100+ nations) | 2025–26 | Trump | 35% | 58% |
| 2018–2020 China Tariffs | 2018 | Trump I | 46% | 48% |
| 2018 Steel & Aluminum | 2018 | Trump I | 42% | 50% |
| 2002 Steel Safeguard Tariffs | 2002 | Bush | 38% | 45% |
| 1930 Smoot-Hawley (retrospective polling) | 1930 | Hoover | N/A | N/A |
Tariff Approval Trend (2025–2026)
Farm State Impact
Iowa: Soybean Exports
China’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. soybeans hit Iowa farmers hardest. Soybean prices dropped 12% in 2025. Iowa approval of tariffs fell from 52% (2024) to 38% (April 2026).
Kansas & Nebraska: Wheat & Beef
EU retaliatory tariffs on U.S. beef and wheat exports affect Plains states. Kansas net tariff approval: −14. Nebraska: −11. Both states carried by Trump in 2024 by 20+ points.
Minnesota: Corn & Pork
Minnesota’s pork industry faces retaliatory tariffs from both China and the EU. Net tariff approval among rural Minnesota voters: −19. A rare area of bipartisan agreement against the policy.
