Epoch Readers Applaud Trump’s First 100 Days in Office: Poll

Readers say Trump’s second term is off to a strong start, with immigration enforcement and bans on gender ideology in schools earning top marks.

A new Epoch Times poll shows robust backing for President Donald Trump’s actions during the first 100 days of his second term, with readers showing strong support for a range of policies, including  on border security, trade, and the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) mandates.

The poll, which garnered 30,773 responses, asked readers to weigh in on 16 major policies enacted during Trump’s first 100 days, as well as provide ratings on his overall performance, their outlook on America’s future, and which policy most influenced their views.

The results show resounding endorsement of Trump’s agenda, especially his moves on deportations, banning gender-transition procedures for minors, and restoring voter ID requirements.

Securing Borders, Ballots, and Classrooms

Since returning to the White House, Trump has moved swiftly to deliver on his campaign pledge to confront the border crisis and crack down on illegal immigration.

He launched a sweeping deportation campaign focused on criminal aliens and gang members, including operatives from Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, which his administration formally designated a terrorist organization.

Declaring an invasion at the southern border, Trump invoked the seldom-used Alien Enemies Act to authorize expedited removals without hearings—sparking a wave of legal challenges and a U.S. Supreme Court order temporarily halting some of the deportations. Still, removal flights have continued, with administration officials filing appeals and insisting the emergency deportation measures are both lawful and essential to national security.

The policy is among the most popular of Trump’s first 100 days. An overwhelming 90 percent of poll respondents said they strongly approve of the deportations targeting criminal aliens and gang members. Another 2 percent said they somewhat approve, while 2 percent remained neutral. Just 6 percent disapproved, including 5 percent who said they strongly disapprove of the policy.

Among Republicans, support was nearly unanimous at 95 percent. By contrast, only 27 percent of Democrats strongly approved. Support also rose steadily with age: 91 percent of seniors approved, compared to 65 percent of respondents under age 35.

The president also moved quickly to ban gender-transition medical procedures for minors. An executive order titled “Protecting Children From Chemical and Surgical Mutilation” directs federal agencies to defund institutions providing puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, or gender-transition surgeries to minors under age 19.

Trump characterized the treatments as harmful, irreversible interventions based on “junk science,” and said they were being performed on “impressionable children” under a “radical and false claim” that sex can be changed.

U.S. military personnel escort alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and the MS-13 gang recently deported by the U.S. government to be imprisoned in the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) prison, as part of an agreement with the Salvadoran government, in San Luis Talpa, El Salvador, on March 30, 2025. Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia/Handout via Reuters

Trump’s order was quickly challenged in court, with plaintiffs arguing it unlawfully bypassed Congress and harmed transgender youth. A federal judge temporarily blocked parts of it, citing likely constitutional issues. Legal battles are ongoing.

Nearly nine in ten respondents to the poll—89 percent—said they strongly approve of banning gender-transition medical procedures for minors. An additional 2 percent somewhat approved, 2 percent were neutral, while only 7 percent disapproved.

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Trump’s 100-Day Rally

Republican respondents backed the move by 95 percent, while 41 percent of Democrats strongly disapproved. Support rose with age, with 90 percent of seniors approving versus 70 percent of those under 35.

On the electoral front, Trump issued an order requiring proof of citizenship—such as a passport or military ID—for would-be voters to register using the national mail voter registration form. Trump says the move is vital to prevent noncitizen voting and restore trust in the electoral system. Though the policy is currently tied up in court, Trump has vowed to defend the requirement and prosecute illegal registration.

Poll respondents backed the policy, with an overwhelming 88 percent strongly approving of Trump’s efforts to require proof of citizenship for voter registration. Another 3 percent said they somewhat approve, while 2 percent were neutral. Just 7 percent disapproved, including 6 percent who strongly disapprove.

Republican support for the policy was overwhelming at 94 percent, while 54 percent of Democrats strongly disapproved. Younger voters were more skeptical, with only 61 percent under age 35 strongly supporting the measure compared to 89 percent of those 65 and older.

Another popular measure was Trump’s effort to eliminate gender ideology in K–12 schools. New rules prohibit the teaching of transgender concepts, mandate biologically based definitions of male and female, and allow the Department of Justice to prosecute schools found in violation. Educators in defiance risk losing federal funding.

The administration says the goal is to protect children, restore parental rights, and uphold scientific and legal clarity in education. Opponents call it discriminatory and unlawful.

In the poll, 88 percent strongly approved of eliminating gender ideology programs, 1 percent somewhat approved, 3 percent were neutral, and 8 percent disapproved—including 7 percent who strongly disapproved.

Among Republicans, 94 percent strongly approved, while less than a quarter of Democrats approved. Support increased with age and was consistent across genders.

Third grade literacy instructor Katelyn Battinelli speaks with students at Stark Elementary School in Stamford, Conn., on March 10, 2021. John Moore/Getty Images

Scrubbing DEI, Pressuring NATO, Restarting Remain in Mexico

Trump has ordered the removal of DEI influence from the college accreditation process. Accreditors imposing DEI-based standards are now subject to federal review, and the administration says it plans to recognize new accreditors to boost competition and promote merit-based standards.

Critics argue the move could destabilize a long-standing system that ensures quality and accountability in U.S. colleges. Trump officials insist the current system promotes bureaucracy and discrimination, and say that students and taxpayers deserve a system focused on education—not political agendas.

A decisive 87 percent of poll respondents strongly approve of eliminating DEI influence in university accreditation, with an additional 3 percent somewhat approving. Just 1 percent were neutral, while 9 percent disapproved—including 8 percent who strongly disapproved.

Republican support stood at 93 percent, with just 17 percent of Democrats strongly in favor.

On foreign policy, Trump has called on NATO allies to raise their defense spending to 5 percent of GDP, arguing that the current levels—many still below the longstanding 2 percent target—place an unfair burden on the United States.

While only a handful of NATO countries currently meet or exceed the 2 percent threshold, nations like Poland, Lithuania, and Estonia have voiced support for Trump’s proposal to boost defense spending targets, citing growing threats from Russia and the need for credible deterrence.

Supporters say the pressure is necessary to ensure NATO’s readiness and fairness, especially as the United States continues to shoulder the majority of the alliance’s defense costs. Critics argue the 5 percent goal is economically unrealistic and politically risky, requiring either deep cuts to domestic programs or significant tax hikes.

Eighty-five percent of poll respondents strongly approved of Trump pressuring NATO allies to meet their defense spending obligations, with another 6 percent somewhat approving. Only 2 percent were neutral, while 7 percent expressed disapproval—including 5 percent who strongly disapproved.

Republicans showed the strongest support (92 percent) for the stance, followed by independents (79 percent). Only 19 percent of Democrats strongly approved, while 35 percent strongly disapproved.

A day after Trump was sworn into office, the Department of Homeland Security reinstated the Remain in Mexico policy—formally known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP)—which requires certain asylum seekers entering through the southern U.S. border to wait in Mexico while their immigration cases are processed.

First implemented in 2019 during Trump’s first term, the policy aims to deter fraudulent asylum claims and reduce illegal entry by preventing claimants from living in the United States while awaiting court decisions.

Troops of the Dutch 13 Lichte Brigade (13th Light Brigade) prepare for a river crossing during the Bastion Lion military exercise near Tangermunde, Germany, on April 02, 2025. Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Trump administration officials say the policy, alongside other border security enforcement efforts, has sharply reduced unlawful crossings. Monthly arrests of illegal border-crossers dipped below 30,000 in February and March, compared to around 250,000 per month during the same period in 2024.

Supporters call Remain in Mexico a necessary measure to restore order at the border, while critics argue it endangers asylum-seekers and limits their access to legal representation.

Most respondents strongly approved of the measure. Eighty-three percent strongly approved, 6 percent somewhat approved, 4 percent were neutral, and 7 percent disapproved. Republicans were near-unanimous at 89 percent, while just 20 percent of Democrats supported the policy. Support increased with age and was slightly higher among men.

Cutting Waste, Fighting Crime, Defunding Harvard

Launched on Trump’s first day back in office, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is a temporary agency tasked with identifying fraudulent and wasteful federal spending so it can be cut.

Led by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, DOGE aims to reduce government expenditures by up to $2 trillion before its planned dissolution on July 4, 2026, although Musk has hinted the initiative could be extended through the end of Trump’s term in 2028. So far, DOGE has identified $160 billion in cuts, targeting federal programs, regulations, contracts, and real property deemed inefficient or excessive.

Supporters see DOGE as a bold effort to tackle bloated bureaucracy and rising national debt. Critics have raised concerns about its access to sensitive data and potential overreach by a presidentially appointed body with limited congressional oversight.

The poll showed 83 percent strongly approved of DOGE identifying federal jobs and programs to cut, 5 percent somewhat approved, 2 percent were neutral, and 10 percent disapproved. Ninety percent of Republicans backed DOGE, while 73 percent of Democrats opposed it. Older respondents were considerably more supportive than younger ones.

Another focus of the administration has been restoring support for law enforcement. In his first 100 days, Trump has focused on reducing crime and supporting law enforcement, issuing executive actions to reverse progressive policies he blames for rising lawlessness and declining police morale.

The president directed the Department of Justice to ramp up support for local police, scrap equity-based limits on policing, and defend officers in court. Trump’s plan also includes transferring surplus military gear to state and local law enforcement agencies, boosting pay, and promoting tougher enforcement tactics. He has also targeted sanctuary cities and launched a federal task force to address crime and homelessness in Washington.

Critics argue his approach risks civil rights violations and federal overreach, but Trump maintains that restoring public safety and empowering law enforcement are critical to national recovery.

A decisive 83 percent of respondents strongly approved of Trump’s early efforts to reduce crime and support law enforcement, with an additional 6 percent somewhat approving. Only 2 percent remained neutral, while 9 percent expressed disapproval, including 7 percent who strongly disapprove.

The Dome of the U.S. Capitol Building is visible as U.S. Capitol Police officers stand guard in Washington, DC, on March 4, 2025. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Republican support reached 90 percent, while only 17 percent of Democrats approved. Support was higher among men and older voters.

In higher education, Trump froze $2.2 billion in federal research funding to Harvard University over the school’s refusal to comply with new federal standards targeting DEI programs and campus anti-Semitism. The president has also threatened to revoke the university’s tax-exempt status, claiming it acts more like a political group than a nonprofit institution.

The administration is demanding that Harvard eliminate DEI initiatives, adopt merit-based admissions, ban masks on campus, and take clear action against anti-Semitic activity.

Harvard sued in response, arguing the freeze violates its constitutional and academic freedoms, and warning of widespread harm to research partnerships nationwide.

Supporters of the funding freeze argue elite universities should not receive taxpayer dollars while promoting divisive ideologies or failing to protect students from discrimination. Critics say that the move sets a dangerous precedent for federal interference in higher education and could chill academic freedom across the country.

A clear majority of poll respondents—82 percent—strongly approved of freezing federal funding to Harvard over civil rights compliance concerns, with an additional 6 percent saying they approved somewhat. Only 9 percent voiced disapproval, while 2 percent remained neutral.

Just 15 percent of Democrats approved, while 89 percent of Republicans strongly backed the move. Support was also slightly higher among older voters.

Revoking Visas, Leaving Paris Pact, Quitting WHO

In response to unrest on American campuses over Israel’s military response in Gaza to the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attacks on Israeli communities, Trump revoked student visas for foreign nationals engaged in what his administration calls “pro-jihadist protests” or support for terrorist groups.

Trump’s directive allows for deportation of any noncitizen who provides support to foreign terrorists or violates related federal laws, and it orders the Department of Education to track complaints of anti-Semitism on campus.

The president has vowed aggressive follow-through: “To all resident aliens who joined the pro-jihadist protests ... we will find you, and we will deport you.”

Supporters say the policy is necessary to protect Jewish students from intimidation. Critics argue that deporting students based on political speech raises serious First Amendment concerns and could be legally problematic in other ways.

A combined 87 percent of respondents approved of revoking student visas for foreign nationals involved in anti-Semitic campus protests, including 80 percent who strongly approved. Just 9 percent expressed disapproval, while 4 percent were neutral.

While 87 percent of Republicans supported the policy, only 18 percent of Democrats did. Support was lowest among respondents under 35.

Trump also withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Accord for the second time, halting all associated climate finance and citing the agreement’s unfair economic burden on the country. The administration argues the climate pact disproportionately restricted the United States while letting major emitters like China off the hook.

Critics have said the withdrawal diminishes America’s global influence and impedes efforts to fight climate change. Supporters counter that it restores sovereignty and prioritizes American jobs and energy independence.

Support for Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord was strong, with 80 percent of respondents strongly approving and another 7 percent somewhat approving. Only 10 percent expressed disapproval, while 3 percent were neutral.

Among Democrats, 77 percent disapproved, while Republican support was nearly unanimous.

Pro-Palestinian students and activists face police officers after protesters were evicted from the campus library earlier in the day at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon, on May 2, 2024. John Rudoff/AFP via Getty Images

Similarly, Trump ordered the United States to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), halting funding and citing the WHO’s deference to China and mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic. A one-year notice period is now underway.

Critics of the withdrawal argue it will hinder global disease coordination and response, while supporters say the move is long overdue and will allow Washington to fund more accountable partners.

Trump’s decision to withdraw from the WHO received strong backing, with 78 percent of respondents strongly approving and another 9 percent somewhat approving. Just 10 percent expressed disapproval, while 3 percent were neutral.

Eighty-four percent of Republicans supported the move, compared to just 13 percent of Democrats.

Energy Shifts, Jan. 6 Pardons, Trade Reset

On day one of his second term, Trump took executive action to halt all new offshore wind leasing on the outer continental shelf, citing environmental, legal, and national security concerns. He also initiated a review of idle turbines and expanded fossil fuel development through fast-tracked permits and regulatory rollbacks.

The offshore wind lease pause received support from 74 percent who strongly approved, 11 percent who somewhat approved, 5 percent who were neutral, and 10 percent who disapproved. Support among Republicans stood at 81 percent, compared to just 13 percent of Democrats.

On his first day back in office, Trump also issued sweeping pardons for individuals convicted of federal crimes stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach. The blanket pardon applied to roughly 1,500 people and commuted the sentences of several others, including prominent members of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys.

Supporters saw the pardons as reconciliation, while critics accused him of excusing attacks on democratic institutions.

Reader support for pardoning January 6 defendants and advancing law enforcement reforms was robust. Seventy-two percent strongly approved, 13 percent somewhat approved, 5 percent were neutral, and 10 percent disapproved.

Republicans were largely supportive at 78 percent, while 81 percent of Democrats strongly opposed the action.

Trump’s new trade policy involves a sweeping tariff overhaul, including a 10 percent universal tariff on nearly all imports and a 145 percent tariff on Chinese goods. The move, part of a declared economic emergency, aims to revive U.S. manufacturing, reduce reliance on foreign supply chains, and counter what Trump calls China’s unfair trade practices.

China has retaliated with tariffs of up to 125 percent, raising concerns of a trade war. While critics warn of inflation and global disruption, Trump has described the tariffs as a necessary economic reset, urging Americans to be patient through a short-term adjustment period.

Trump’s tariff agenda, headlined by the universal 10 percent rate and the steeper China-specific hike, won the strong backing of 65 percent of respondents—with another 19 percent offering support but to a lesser degree. Only 11 percent disapproved, and 5 percent remained neutral.

Support was high among Republicans—71 percent—while only 13 percent of Democrats favored the plan. Younger voters were more skeptical, with just 40 percent under 35 expressing strong support.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks on reciprocal tariffs during an event in the Rose Garden entitled “Make America Wealthy Again” at the White House in Washington on April 2, 2025. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

Performance Score, Mood Shift, Most Influential Policy

Trump’s opening 100 days drew widespread praise from survey participants, with 91 percent rating his performance as either excellent (79 percent) or good (12 percent), and just 8 percent offering a negative assessment.

Support was especially pronounced among Republicans—86 percent excellent—and voters aged 65 and older, with 79 percent of this group giving Trump’s early efforts an excellent grade. Democrats were far more critical, with 74 percent rating his performance as very poor.

Optimism about America’s future also surged, with 69 percent saying they feel much more optimistic than they did 100 days ago, and another 19 percent feeling somewhat more optimistic. Among Republicans, 76 percent said their outlook had dramatically improved, compared to just 14 percent of Democrats.

When asked to name the single most influential policy shaping their view of Trump’s performance, respondents overwhelmingly pointed to border and immigration enforcement. Over 6,400 participants who provided write-in responses praised Trump’s deportation orders and efforts to secure the border, often describing immigration enforcement as the foundation for sovereignty, security, and national identity.

More than 2,200 cited Trump’s broader immigration policy—including executive actions and the reinstatement of the Remain in Mexico program—as essential to restoring order. DOGE reforms were the third-most mentioned in write-in responses—over 1,700 mentions—with many hailing DOGE as the first serious attempt to dismantle bureaucratic waste.

Tariff policies also stood out, with over 1,400 mentions. Supporters called the 10 percent universal tariff a long-overdue strategy to rebalance global trade and bring manufacturing back to the United States. A minority of respondents expressed concern over what they described as the policy’s chaotic rollout, economic risks, and potential inflationary impact.

The elimination of DEI mandates also drew significant praise, with over 200 write-in responses describing such programs as divisive, discriminatory, or anti-meritocratic.

Overall, many respondents praised Trump’s speed, decisiveness, and fulfillment of campaign promises, with nearly 1,000 write-in responses praising the president’s entire agenda, often describing it as urgent, necessary, and long overdue.