A majority of Americans view President Donald Trump as a "dangerous dictator whose power should be limited before he destroys American democracy," according to a new survey conducted by the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI).
The survey, released Tuesday to coincide with Trump's 100th day in office, found that 52% of Americans agree with the characterization, while 44% see Trump as "a strong leader who should be given the power he needs to restore America's greatness." Support for Trump remains strongest among Republicans, with 83% expressing favorable views, but only 35% of independents and 8% of Democrats share that sentiment.
Melissa Deckman, CEO of PRRI, told Axios, "Most Americans view Trump in dictatorial terms, and I think most Americans are concerned that American democracy is on the line," adding, "It's only been 100 days into the Trump administration, yet we've really seen a pushback among most Americans to the Trump agenda."
The poll shows that 56% of independents view Trump as a "dangerous dictator," indicating potential erosion among the middle-of-the-road voters who were crucial to his reelection. Trump's policy moves, including mass firings of federal employees, sweeping tariffs, aggressive deportation practices, and the elimination of diversity programs, appear to be driving public concern.
A majority of Americans oppose placing undocumented immigrants in military-guarded internment camps, with 61% rejecting the proposal. More than seven in 10 Americans oppose closing or shrinking major federal agencies, citing concerns over impacts on airline safety, healthcare, and water quality. Additionally, two-thirds of Americans disapprove of Trump's tariff policies.
Among racial groups, majorities of Black Americans, Latinos, and Asian Americans agreed that Trump is a "dangerous dictator," compared to 45% of white Americans. White Americans are closely split, with 51% viewing Trump as a strong leader and 45% seeing him as a danger to democracy.
Among Trump voters who now regret their decision, 55% describe him as a "dangerous dictator," compared to 42% who maintain he is a strong leader. Similarly, 68% of non-voters who regret abstaining from the last election said they view Trump as a dangerous dictator.
Trump pushed back against negative polling on Truth Social, writing Monday that the surveys were "fake" and suggesting that the organizations behind them should be "investigated for election fraud."
Despite ongoing controversy, 81% of Republicans surveyed said they still believe Trump is a strong leader who should be empowered to enact his agenda.
