Poll finds Americans support Trump’s approach to reducing crime

President Donald Trump’s approval ratings stabilized in August, with the majority of Americans approving of his approach to combating crime across the country, a recent poll indicated.

Mark Penn, co-director of the Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll, explained the results of the poll in an interview with RealClearPolitics. He noted that Trump’s focus has shifted from immigration to tariffs and then to “a national crackdown on crime.” He added that “you’re seeing a generally favorable response to it.”

“Fifty-four percent approve of the president’s approach, using the National Guard in D.C.,” Penn said. “That’s interesting. Any time I apply the word ‘Trump,’ it’s very hard to get above 50%. If I take his name off the policies, I get 60, 70, 75, even 80% support — for example, locking up criminals who are here illegally. But when you put his name, the country is so polarized that Democrats won’t concede a single inch.”

According to the poll, Trump’s job approval rating was at 47% in August, consistent with the rating he also received in May and July. His approval rating was at 46% in June. Americans were most supportive of Trump’s approach to fighting crime in US cities, but they also approved of his efforts to restore America to its values and crack down on immigration. He received low approval ratings on inflation and trade policy.

Penn told RealClearPolitics that Americans are “razor-focused” on domestic policy rather than international relations.

“Americans are conflict-avoiders. They don’t support wars for long. But right now, they support Israel, they support trying to end the Ukraine war, and they support Trump trying to negotiate,” he said. “They just don’t know how he’ll do it.”

Penn also highlighted the loyalty of Democrats and Republicans to their political parties. While the Democratic Party has hit record low ratings this year, Penn noted that Democrats are not showing signs of turning Republican for now.