All eyes are on ICE

Poll: ICE

This Navigator Research report covers Trump’s handling of immigration and mass deportations as well as messaging guidance on ICE.

Views Of Trump’s Handling Of Immigration And Mass Deportations

Americans’ approval of President Trump’s handling of immigration continues to fall to a net -12. Just two months ago, before Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed by federal immigration officials, Trump’s net approval on immigration was at -7. Net approval of Trump’s handling of immigration is notably low among women (net -17 approval), people between 18 and 34 years of age (net -21 approval), people of color (net -40 approval), and independents (net -27 approval).

Bar chart from Navigator Research, titled: A Majority of Americans Disapprove of Trump’s Handling of Immigration, With Ratings Souring Most Among Independents

Nearly six-in-10 (59%) oppose the way Trump has deployed ICE. Similarly, majorities (52%) also disapprove of Trump’s mass deportation blame. In January 2025, a majority (51%) approved of Trump’s mass deportation plan.

For the first time since November, a majority (51%) say they’ve seen mostly negative news about Trump recently. ICE and immigration have dominated the positive and negative news coverage of Trump.

Americans Do Not Agree With Trump’s Mass Deportation Agenda

Nearly two-thirds (65%) of Americans say the Trump administration should mainly target their deportations towards those with convictions and criminal records. However, 64% say that the Trump administration is doing the opposite, targeting all undocumented people for deportation, regardless of whether or not they have a criminal record.

Bar chart from Navigator Research, titled: Americans Want to See Immigration Enforcement Focus on Criminals, But They See Trump Doing Something Very Different

Two-thirds (66%) of Americans support a balanced approach on immigration that focuses on fixing a broken system rather than a system focused on strict enforcement and mass deportations (25% support). This includes a plurality (48%) of 2024 Trump voters.

Bar chart from Navigator Research, titled: Americans Prefer a Balanced Immigration Approach By More Than 2-to-1

Worries About ICE

Nearly two-thirds (65%) of Americans are worried, including 50% who are extremely worried, about ICE agents acting violently towards people because agents lack training. Among those most concerned by this are independents (71% worried, 50% extremely worried), non-MAGA Republicans (51% worried, 30% extremely worried), and Black Americans (85% worried, 66% extremely worried).

Other top-testing concerns are ICE targeting people for their appearance (62% worried, 48% extremely worried) and ICE detaining children and separating families (63% worried, 47% extremely worried). General concerns regarding ICE targeting citizens and lawful residents (60% worried, 46% extremely worried) were just as concerning as concerns regarding ICE targeting residents in “your community” (58% worried, 44% extremely worried).

Bar chart from Navigator Research, titled: Top ICE Concerns: Violence, Lack of Training, Family Separation, Targeting People Based on Appearance, Targeting Citizens

Highlighting ICE’s Actions

A majority of Americans are concerned by ICE’s actions. Messages that Americans find concerning include:

  • ICE should be going after violent criminals, but instead is being far too aggressive and broad in its approach.
  • We are spending billions of dollars on ICE to terrorize our communities while cutting billions from things that help Americans get by, like health care and food assistance in Medicaid and SNAP.
  • ICE is acting like a secret police force in a dictatorship that is completely loyal to Trump: masked agents are terrorizing communities and killing citizens.
  • ICE is tearing families apart, detaining and zip-tying children and separating U.S. citizen children from their families.
  • ICE is supposed to be making our communities safer, but they’re making us less safe.
Bar chart from Navigator Research, titled: Top Messaging Against ICE: Too Broad, Costing Billions That Should Go to Health Care, ICE As a Secret Police Force

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April 8, 2026

Americans Blame Trump for Rising Gas Prices

This Navigator Research report includes new data on gas prices, including to what extent Americans believe gas prices have increased and perceptions of who’s to blame.

Maryann Cousens

Americans Continue To Sour On ICE

Poll: ICE

This Navigator Research report covers the most recent perceptions of ICE following the killings of both Renee Good and Alex Pretti, including tracking of ICE’s favorability, the share who believe Secretary Noem should be impeached and Stephen Miller should be fired, and the reforms to ICE that Americans most support.

Trump’s Handling Of Immigration Is At A Low

Trump’s handling of immigration hit its lowest level in his second term. However, Americans still trust Republicans over Democrats on immigration issues, including enforcing immigration laws the right way (40% trust Republicans, 36% trust Democrats), border security (44% trust Republicans, 31% trust Democrats), and fixing the immigration system (40% trust Republicans, 31% trust Democrats).

Perceptions of ICE and Recent Violence

A majority of Americans continue to hold negative views of ICE (net -22; 36% favorable – 58% unfavorable), consistent with Navigator’s first January survey (net -20; 37% favorable – 57% unfavorable), and a drastic decline since June 2025 (net -8).

As views of ICE remain underwater, news of ICE’s actions in Minneapolis continues to dominate, as overwhelming majorities have seen, read, or heard news about the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good (83%), including over seven-in-10 passive news consumers (71%). Not only are these events well-known, they’re worrying. A majority find the deployment of ICE to Minneapolis leading to the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti to be concerning (58%), including among a majority of independents (58%) and a third of non-MAGA Republicans (33% concerned).

ICE is more unpopular than other entities. Americans are split on how they view the Department of Homeland Security as a whole, as 44% view the agency favorably, and 43% unfavorably (87% familiar). If reduced to just its acronym, DHS, views are still split but with less familiarity (66% familiar; 32% favorable – 33% unfavorable). Similarly, Americans are split on U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, viewed favorably by a 3-point margin (87% familiar; 45% favorable – 42% unfavorable).

Bar chart from Navigator Research, titled: ICE’s Ratings Are Deeply in the Negative Following Recent Events

Miller/Noem

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and immigration advisor Stephen Miller, two of the architects of the administration’s immigration agenda, have net-negative approval rates of -14 points and -12 points, respectively.

Bar chart from Navigator Research, titled: Nearly Half Support Impeaching DHS Secretary Kristi Noem

More people support efforts to impeach Noem than oppose (45% support to 35% oppose). 40% of non-MAGA Republicans support impeaching Noem compared to 37% who oppose. About a third of MAGA Republicans (31%) support impeaching Noem.

Likewise, 42% support firing Stephen Miller compared to 29% who oppose his firing. When given more information about Miller’s role as the architect of Trump’s ICE policies and his initial defenses of the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, calling them assassins and domestic terrorists, support for his firing jumps up to 52%.

Bar chart from Navigator Research, titled: Americans Want to See Stephen Miller Fired; Support Increases With More Detail About Who He Is and What He’s Said

Reform/Abolish

By a 2-point margin, Americans support abolishing ICE (47% support – 45% oppose), including 74% of Democrats, 55% of Hispanic Americans, 53% of those ages 18-34 years old, and 47% of white women.

Bar chart from Navigator Research, titled: Americans Are Split on Abolishing ICE; When Given More Options, Pluralities Support Reform Over Abolition or Continuation As Is

When given the options between abolish, reform, or make no changes to ICE, more say there should be significant reforms (43% reform – 27% abolish – 24% make no changes), though Democrats still are more likely to support abolishing ICE than reforming (49% abolish – 44% reform – 3% make no changes).

Reform Policies

Many of the proposed reforms to ICE floated by lawmakers are popular. In particular, the most popular are requiring ICE agents to wear body cameras (86% support), requiring all ICE agents to go through full criminal background checks (84% support), requiring ICE agents to de-escalate conflict whenever possible (76% support), and setting standards of conduct for ICE agents, meaning they could be prosecuted if violating them (76%) support).

Bar chart from Navigator Research, titled: Background Checks and Body Cameras Are Most Strongly Supported ICE Reforms; Range of Policies Enjoy Majority Support

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April 8, 2026

Americans Blame Trump for Rising Gas Prices

This Navigator Research report includes new data on gas prices, including to what extent Americans believe gas prices have increased and perceptions of who’s to blame.

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Focus Group Report: Trump Regrets … They’ve Had A Few

Focus Group: Regretful Trump 2024 Voters

This Navigator Research report covers Americans in battleground states who voted for Trump in 2024 and expressed regret or misgivings about their vote.

Other Big Takeaways

Some [Trump regretters] even feel “duped” and surprised by Trump’s term. Others expected Trump to be flawed but did not like their other options.

Few see anyone – Democrats or Republicans – coming to stop Trump. Trump regretters express a desire for elected officials to have “a backbone” and fight for something.

Grades

Trump regretters graded the presidency between a B and F. None of the participants gave him an A.

“That’s why with a D or D-minus… Everything that’s been enacted, again, the rhetoric, all these ICE escapades and everything like that, it’s rough, and I just don’t think he’s doing anything about it or helping at all.” – MI Black man

Slide featuring quotes from Navigator Research's focus groups, titled: Trump’s Own Voters Give Him Lackluster Grades – Mostly Ds And Cs

The Economy

Trump regretters cited some bright spots in the economy, largely gas prices and stocks.

“They finally did come to terms where it’s going to help people that are waitresses and this and that for where they just passed, where their tips aren’t going to be taxed and overtime is not going to be taxed.” – MI white man

Slide featuring quotes from Navigator Research's focus groups, titled: Some Trump Regretters See A Few Silver Linings In The Economy – Like Gas Prices And The Stock Market

Many Trump regretters say the cost of living is a major concern, especially how wages haven’t kept up with rising costs and how tariffs have impacted their wallets.

Slide featuring quotes from Navigator Research's focus groups, titled: Others See Little Going Well, And Feel Economically Strained By High Costs And Tariffs

Some expressed frustration that the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress haven’t done more to alleviate the pain they’re feeling on their wallets, with some highlighting Republicans’ inability to lower health care costs or how they endangered SNAP funding.

“There are a litany of things that are right in front of our faces, but there just hasn’t been meaningful movement forward on any of them.” – PA white man

Slide featuring quotes from Navigator Research's focus groups, titled: Many Lament That Trump Has Done Nothing To Make Things Better

Demeanor and Focus

Trump regretters say his petulant behavior bothers them more and more, comparing him to a child.

“And even some of the stuff that he will just post on social media or just say to other people or about other people, especially official people, I think it’s very childish and it’s almost embarrassing to be like, ‘Oh yeah, and I voted for that guy.’” – MI white man

Slide featuring quotes from Navigator Research's focus groups, titled: Many See His Behavior As Unpresidential, Unacceptable, Or Unlawful

Participants see Trump as focused on self-enrichment instead of working families.

“Personal gain, whatever is going to be best for him, for the rich. … To the question of what I think Trump thinks of us, but I do think that for the lower class and middle working class, he probably views us as little peasants and just wants the vote.” – GA white woman

Slide featuring quotes from Navigator Research's focus groups, titled: Most See Trump As Out For Himself And Not Interested In Their Own Struggles Or Lives

Immigration, The Epstein Files, and Venezuela

Some Trump regretters say they are surprised by his actions on immigration.

“The hatred, just the going after immigrants and just the way that he’s attacking them. I didn’t think he would go this route, not because I thought he was a good person, but because I didn’t think he would think it was personally good for him.” – GA Hispanic woman

Slide featuring quotes from Navigator Research's focus groups, titled: While Most Expected Action On Immigration, Recent Actions And Enforcement From ICE Has Been Surprising

The focus groups took place days after an ICE officer shot and killed Renee Good in Minneapolis. ICE enforcement and the shooting are top of mind for many, especially for Latino voters. Others say raids and deportations are hitting close to home.

“It’s just been kind of disgusting what happens because of the domino effect of ICE getting $4 billion jumping up there, how much they have now to spend and use.” – AZ Hispanic man

A few Trump regretters liken ICE actions to that of a Hitler-style dictatorship.

Slide featuring quotes from Navigator Research's focus groups, titled: Several Liken Trump’s Actions, And ICE Specifically, To That Of A Hitler-Style Dictator

Trump regretters said there was something suspicious about his handling of the Epstein files.

“Yeah, there’s some stuff I strongly disagree with, … the handling of the Epstein files obviously are hotbeds.” – MI white man

Slide featuring quotes from Navigator Research's focus groups, titled: The Epstein Files Are An Additional Trump Failure

Participants have more nuanced views on Trump’s actions in Venezuela, although many worry about what comes next.

“As for physically running another sovereign nation, plucking a foreign leader out of their bed and bringing them to the stateside for prosecution, that’s not a great look on the international floor.” – WI white man

Slide featuring quotes from Navigator Research's focus groups, titled: Views On Trump’s Actions In Venezuela Are More Mixed

Regrets

Some Trump regretters said they felt “complicit” or “duped” about their votes.

“He’s a great con man.” – NC Hispanic man

Slide featuring quotes from Navigator Research's focus groups, titled: Many Regretters Admit To Feeling Embarrassed, “Complicit,” Or “Duped”

Some say they had an “a-ha” moment when they moved towards regretting their vote.

Slide featuring quotes from Navigator Research's focus groups, titled: Some Had An “A-ha” Moment When They Shifted To Regretting Their Vote

Many said they suspected Trump’s term would turn out this way, but they felt they had no other choice when they cast their ballots.

Slide featuring quotes from Navigator Research's focus groups, titled: Others Knew Or Suspected Trump’s Term Would Go This Way, But Felt They Had No Other Choice

Trump regretters see Republicans in Congress as Trump enablers.

“I expected Republicans to act like the grownups … I know a lot of those people speak better than Trump, they’re far more eloquent, they make more sense, but nobody used any of that to really speak up.” – MI Hispanic woman

Slide featuring quotes from Navigator Research's focus groups, titled: Republicans In Congress Seen As Just Going Along With Whatever Trump Wants

They see few Congressional Democrats fighting for them and can only name a handful that excite them. Some Trump regretters say Democrats haven’t provided an alternative.

When asked about Democrats that excite them:

“Raphael Warnock has done a decent job. … I don’t think that there’s anything at this moment that I can think of that I want to see per se.” – GA white woman

Slide featuring quotes from Navigator Research's focus groups, titled: Few See Democrats As Fighting For Them, But A Handful Can Name Democrats Who Excite Them

When asked what they would tell their 2024 selves, Trump regretters said they would try to “get out of the manosphere” and “buckle up” for the road ahead.

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December 3, 2025

Focus Group Report: Working Class Americans and the Affordability Crisis

Focus group report that covers groups conducted among working class Americans in Senate battleground states on their personal financial situations, their greatest economic concerns, and perceptions of elected officials tackling affordability.

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November 3, 2025

Focus Group Report: Americans and Political Dysfunction

Focus group report on government dysfunction.

Rachael Russell, Ian Smith, Maryann Cousens & Camille Keene

Americans Don’t Want Greenland, They Just Want Lower Costs

Poll: Greenland, ICE and Venezuela

This Navigator Research report covers the latest views of President Trump’s priorities while in office, including views of his recent actions in Venezuela, perceptions of ICE and the shooting of Renee Good, and what Americans believe the President should be focused on.

Americans’ Priorities vs Trump’s Priorities

Majorities of Americans across partisanship want the President and Congress to be focused on inflation and the cost of living (56% of Democrats, 54% of independents, and 54% of Republicans). After inflation and the cost of living, Americans cite jobs and the economy (44%), health care (39%), Social Security and Medicare (31%), and corruption in government (29%) as the issues they want the President and Congress to focus on.

Though when it comes to the issues Americans want the government to focus on versus what they believe Trump and Republicans in Congress are most focused on, priorities are not aligned. Nearly two thirds say Trump and Republicans in Congress are focused on immigration and the border (62%) – while only a quarter say this should be a priority (27%). Nearly half believe Trump and Congressional Republicans are focused on the conflict in Venezuela (45%), a priority for only 5% of Americans.

Scatter plot chart from Navigator Research, titled: Americans Want A Focus on the Economy But Say Trump and Republicans Are More Focused on Other Issues

Foreign Intervention and Venezuela

News of the U.S. carrying out a military operation in Venezuela and capturing President Nicolás Maduro has broken through to 77% of Americans, including 62% of passive news consumers – who say news comes to them (rather than seeking out news).

Bar chart from Navigator Research, titled: Most Americans Are Hearing About the U.S. Capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and His Wife

Support for this military operation is split and heavily influenced by partisanship (43% support – 43% oppose), though majorities agree the U.S. should not take control of Venezuela and run the country (37% support – 53% oppose), including a plurality of non-MAGA Republicans by a 2-point margin (43% support – 45% oppose).

Nearly three quarters of Americans believe the US should be cautious about using military force abroad and instead focus priorities at home (72%), while only 28% believe the U.S. should be taking bold actions to strengthen influences and finances. This margin stays the same even after adding the context of toppling a dictator:

“The U.S. should be willing to use its military power abroad, including to topple dictators when necessary, to strengthen U.S. influence and finances”

While 72% agree with the opposing message:

“The U.S. should be cautious about using military force abroad, especially when it comes to regime change wars, and instead focus our time and money on priorities at home.”

Bar chart from Navigator Research, titled: Americans Overwhelmingly Agree U.S. Should Be Cautious With Military Force and Focus on Domestic Issues Instead

Greenland

By a 34-point margin, a majority oppose the U.S. taking control of Greenland (23% support – 57% oppose). Republicans as a whole narrowly support the U.S. taking control of Greenland (net +7), though non-MAGA Republicans oppose the move by 34-points (19% support – 53% oppose). A majority of Americans believe it is likely that President Trump will attempt to take control of Greenland (54% likely – 27% unlikely), including 58% of Democrats, 52% of Republicans, and 46% of independents.

Bar chart from Navigator Research, titled: Americans Overwhelmingly Oppose the U.S. Taking Control of Greenland Though Majorities Think Trump Will Likely Try

ICE

ICE’s favorability has dropped significantly in the past year, including in the wake of the shooting of Renee Good in Minnesota. In June 2025, ICE’s net favorability was -8 with 42% seeing the agency positively and 50% negative. The latest polling, which was fielded the day after an ICE officer shot Good, found ICE had a net -20 favorability, with only 37% favorable and 57% unfavorable. ICE is also one of the most prominent negative news stories regarding the President in qualitative data.

Bar chart from Navigator Research, titled: Most Americans Now View ICE Negatively

More than three-in-four (78%) say they have seen at least some news about the ICE officer in Minneapolis shooting Renee Good with 55% saying they have seen, heard, or read “a lot” about it. This includes nearly two-thirds of passive news consumers (65%).

Bar chart from Navigator Research, titled: Nearly Four in Five Are Hearing About the ICE Shooting in MN

Nearly six-in-10 say that ICE has been too aggressive in its approach (59%), including 41% of non-MAGA Republicans. In Navigator’s June 2025 survey, only 52% said the administration has been too aggressive in their approach to deportations.

Bar chart from Navigator Research, titled: Majorities Say ICE Has Been Too Aggressive

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April 8, 2026

Americans Blame Trump for Rising Gas Prices

This Navigator Research report includes new data on gas prices, including to what extent Americans believe gas prices have increased and perceptions of who’s to blame.

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2025 Wrapped: Trump’s Year in Review

Poll: Trump’s Year in Review

This Navigator Research report covers the latest views of Trump and his administration’s actions over the last year.

Presidential Approval and Economic Handling

While President Trump’s approval ratings have improved slightly since the lows of the government shutdown, they remain below his standing prior to the shutdown. Currently, the President sits at 13-points underwater and -38 among independents. Similarly, his economic approval is 14-points underwater, only slightly above the lows seen before the shutdown, Liberation Day, and the rollout of tariffs.

Line graph from Navigator Research, titled: Trump's Ratings Are As Bad As They Were Before the Shutdown

Americans are most negative on the President’s handling of inflation and the cost of living. A majority of Americans disapprove of his performance on these issues (61%), compared to just 35% who approve—a 26-point deficit. This gap widens significantly among independents, where the President faces a 53-point deficit.

While inflation remains the main drag on his approval, other issues such as health care, tariffs, and government spending are also sources of negativity. Specifically, the President sees his second-lowest approval rating on health care, with 57% of Americans disapproving of his performance. This represents a 21-point net deficit overall and a 37-point net deficit among independents. Furthermore, qualitative data indicates that tariffs and Epstein are dominating the negative news cycle regarding the President.

Bar chart from Navigator Research, titled: Trump's Ratings Are Especially Poor on Inflation With a Real Decline on Health Care
Line graph and word clouds from Navigator Research, titled: Americans Continue to Hear Negative on Trump, Including Epstein Files, Tariffs, Falling Asleep

Specific Concerns

As the year progresses, 14% of Trump voters now say they regret their vote. This sentiment is even more pronounced among non-MAGA Republicans, 17% of whom now express regret. When asked to explain this shift, the economy and broken promises are cited as the primary drivers of regret.

Bar chart and a word cloud from Navigator Research, titled: Nearly One in Six Trump Voters Regret Their 2024 Vote Choice Citing Trump's Broken Promises — Especially on the Economy

Specific policy critiques resonate strongly with concerned Americans. Half of Americans (50%) find it “extremely concerning” that the President promised to look out for forgotten Americans but is cutting SNAP funding and health care while passing tax cuts for the wealthy. Additionally, 47% are extremely concerned that despite promises to put Americans first, billions of dollars are being spent on foreign conflicts, including potential ground strikes in Venezuela. Concerns regarding immigration enforcement also persist, with 44% finding the deportation of legal residents and law-abiding immigrants extremely concerning.

The Prioritization Gap

There is a significant disconnect between what Americans want the government to prioritize and what they perceive as the focus of the President and Republicans in Congress. Inflation and the cost of living remain the top priority for Americans, with 57% ranking it among their top five most important issues. Jobs and the economy follow closely (44%), along with health care, Social Security, and corruption in government.

Notably, immigration has fallen out of the top five issues for Americans, now sitting at 27%. However, 69% of Americans believe the President and congressional Republicans are focused on immigration and the border. This creates a massive 42-point gap between the issue’s actual importance to Americans and the perceived prioritization by leadership. Conversely, Americans see 20-point deficits in focus on the issues that matter most to them: inflation, the economy, and health care. Congressional Democrats, meanwhile, are more likely to be seen as prioritizing health care (39%), aligning with one of the public’s top concerns.

Bar charts from Navigator Research, titled: Inflation Remains a Priority, As Does the Economy, Health Care, Trump & GOP Are Not Seen As Prioritizing Any of Them
Bar chart from Navigator Research, titled: Americans See Democrats As More Focused on Health Care

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April 8, 2026

Americans Blame Trump for Rising Gas Prices

This Navigator Research report includes new data on gas prices, including to what extent Americans believe gas prices have increased and perceptions of who’s to blame.

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Views of AI and data centers

Poll: AI and Data Centers

This Navigator Research report covers perceptions of AI and data centers in the country today.

Views towards AI

Americans’ perception of artificial intelligence or AI is varied, with young men viewing it the most positively. 49% of Americans have a favorable view of AI, this jumps to 57% for men overall, and 63% for men under the age of 55. Women on the other hand view AI unfavorably by 7 points (41% favorable – 48% unfavorable). Younger women are nearly even on the issue (net -2), while women over the age of 55 view AI unfavorably by 9 points. Younger Americans and voters of color generally have a more positive view of AI.

Despite the fact that AI favorability favors younger and men, Republicans view AI more favorably (net +17) than Democrats (net +2) and independents (net -8), the partisan divide is less disparate around AI than most other issues facing the country.

Educational attainment, job type, and income also play a role: Americans with a college degree, those who work white collar jobs, and those living in households that earn more than $100,000 per year all view AI more favorably. Those who use AI frequently, either daily or weekly, are far more favorable towards it than those who don’t.

The groups who report viewing AI most favorably also say they use it the most. While half of Americans say they use AI tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, or DALL-E once a week or more, 15% are using these tools several times a day. 18% of men report using AI tools several times a day, jumping to 23% for men under the age of 55.

When it comes to AI, while most Americans are generally comfortable with it, most also say either use it with caution or have concerns about it. Regardless of usage, Americans are mixed about whether the way AI is being used right now is good or bad for the country and for “people like you.”

AI as a Political Issue

Americans also don’t see either party as having an advantage on the issue. Just 23% say they trust Democrats to handle AI, while 25% say they trust Republicans more—revealing a large opportunity. A majority either trust neither party or say they don’t know who to trust.

There is bipartisan support for more regulation of AI. When it comes to AI, 60% say there should be more regulation to limit its potential negative impact on society, including 63% of Democrats, 59% of Republicans, and 52% of independents. Even among those who view AI favorably, a majority say there should be more regulation.

Data Centers

The building of new data centers doesn’t yet evoke strong feelings nationally. A majority say they have heard little or nothing about building new data centers in America, and even fewer have heard about potential data centers being built in their own communities. Americans living in the midwest are hearing more about the building of new data centers both nationally and in their own communities.

Given the lack of awareness about data centers, Americans don’t have a strong sense that they are good or bad for the country or for the communities where they are located. Most Americans say data centers are either an equal mix of good or bad or that they are not sure, indicating an opportunity to engage on the issue.

Ultimately, Americans’ are split and unsure of whether they would support the building of a data center in their local community (36% support – 32% oppose – 32% unsure). While Republicans are more supportive (net +15) than Democrats (net -5) and independents (net -4), most Republicans either say they would oppose it or are unsure. Those who view AI favorably are less likely to believe data centers are far more supportive of building new data centers in their own community (52% support – 21% oppose).

The greatest concern Americans have about data centers focuses on the impact it would have on the community, chiefly that data centers will use up too much energy and raise utility costs for local residents. This is most concerning across partisanship and racial demographics. The most appealing potential benefits are high-paying, union jobs and growth to local economies and tax revenue.

When it comes to building more data centers, an approach that protects consumers from both environmental consequences and higher costs associated with them is more appealing than one that solely aims to slow or stop the construction of data centers.

In response to an argument that “we should encourage more building of data centers so that we can boost our economy, create good-paying local jobs, and stay competitive with countries like China on technology and economic development,” there is a 40 point difference between the rebuttals:

As we build more data centers, we should do it in a way that protects consumers and our environment and makes sure that tech companies pay their fair share instead of passing the costs onto consumers (net +44)

We should try to slow or stop the rampant construction of data centers because they drain local energy, hurt our economy and our health, raise costs for consumers, and make tech billionaires even richer (net +4)

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April 8, 2026

Americans Blame Trump for Rising Gas Prices

This Navigator Research report includes new data on gas prices, including to what extent Americans believe gas prices have increased and perceptions of who’s to blame.

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