WASHINGTON: A new poll reveals that Americans are divided over Donald Trump’s handling of the economy, by a majority, that his unpredictable policy, including aggressive import tariffs, could harm economic stability.
About 57% of Americans believe President Donald Trump is too erratic in his movements to shake the US economy, including his aggressive strategy for taxing imports that have spooked the stock market, a Reuters/Ipsos Voting that closed Wednesday found.
One -third of the respondents said Trump’s actions were not too erratic and 11% were uncertain or did not respond. About one in three Republicans said Trump’s actions were too erratic.
To be sure, 79% of Republicans in the two-day vote said they agreed with a statement that Trump’s actions about the economy “will pay in the long run,” a sign that some people in Trump’s party are not fond of his steering style but agree with the content of his policy.
41 percent of respondents in general and only 5% of Democrats-estimated Trump’s policy would eventually pay off.
About 70% of respondents in the vote – including nine out of 10 Democrats and six out of 10 Republicans – said the expected higher tariffs would make groceries and other regular purchases more expensive.
About 61% of respondents in the vote said Trump’s highest priority should be reining at rising prices.
The study investigated 1,422 US adults nationwide and had a margin of error for all respondents of 3 percentage points.
