Asian American approval and disapproval of Trump’s policies

Trump has taken hardline measures on immigration, diversity programs, tariffs, and the federal government. Recent approval tracking by the New York Times and Gallup show Trump with low approval ratings. Among racial groups, White Americans have the highest approval, while Americans of color show lower approval. Although a majority of Asian Americans generally disapprove of Trump’s policies, their approval and disapproval are nuanced when disaggregated by issue, party affiliation, Asian subgroup, age, and gender. Asian Republicans overwhelmingly approve, while Asian Democrats overwhelming disapprove. Asian American males have higher approval than Asian American females, and younger Asian Americans aged 18-29 have the highest disapproval. A significant number of Asian Americans neither favor nor oppose key issues that directly affect their communities, such as deporting immigrants who live in the U.S. illegally, ending birthright citizenship, and reducing the number of immigrant or work visas.

Trump has taken hardline measures on immigration, diversity programs, tariffs, and the federal government during his first 100 days. Surveys and polls released around Trump’s 100-day mark showed a majority of Americans disapprove of him, with his approval at historic low levels. As of this writing, recent approval tracking by the New York Times and Gallup still show Trump with low approval ratings.

Sharpest drop among Asian Americans

Pew Research’s latest survey showed Trump’s job approval falling to 40% in April from 47% in February. Among racial groups, White Americans continue to have the highest approval at 49%, while Americans of color show lower approval with 29% among Asian Americans, 27% among Hispanic Americans, and 14% among Black Americans. While Trump’s rating have dropped across all racial groups, it has fallen more sharply among Asian Americans, dropping 18 points to 29% in April.

Asian Republicans overwhelming approve

The April 2025 AAPI Data/AP-NORC poll found Asian Republicans (22% of Asian voters identify as Republicans), similar to overall Republicans, overwhelming approve of Trump’s handling of the issues. Their highest approval was on immigration at 86%, while their lowest approval, lower than overall Republicans, was on the economy at 67%. This contrasts sharply with Asian Democrats (42% of Asian voters identify as Democrats), where 84% disapprove of Trump’s handling of immigration and 94% disapprove of his handling of the economy. Asian Independents (31% of Asian voters identify as Independent) mostly disapprove, but were divided on immigration.

Handling of the economy and immigration

A large majority of Asian Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy at 70% and immigration at 57%, however their approval was highest on immigration at 42% and lowest on the economy at 28%. Among major Asian subgroups, Filipino Americans have the highest approval of Trump’s handling of the economy at 38% and immigration at 47%, while Korean Americans have some of the lowest approval ratings with 28% on the economy and 30% on immigration. Interestingly, Asian American males have higher approval of Trump’s policies than Asian American females, and younger Asian Americans aged 18-29 have the highest disapproval.

Diversity and inclusion policies

Nearly two-thirds of Asian Americans disapprove and a third approve of Trump’s handling of diversity and inclusion policies. Trump’s approval rating was higher among Chinese Americans at 42%, older Asian Americans aged 60 and above at 41%, and Asian American males at 38%. Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders, Koreans, Japanese, Vietnamese, and younger Asian Americans aged 18-29 have some of the highest disapproval ratings at 79%, 74%, 72%, 69%, and 70%, respectively.

Deporting immigrants living in the U.S. illegally

There are 1.1 million – 1.7 million immigrants from Asia living in the U.S. illegally, constituting 10% to 16% of the U.S. unauthorized immigrant population in 2022. Asian Americans were divided on deporting all immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. Younger Asian Americans aged 18-29 were more likely to oppose, while those aged 45 and older were more likely to favor. Among major Asian American subgroups, Filipinos (55% favor/34% oppose), Koreans (46% favor/36% oppose), and Asian Indians (45% favor/32% oppose) were more likely to favor than oppose deporting all immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, though a notable percentage neither favor nor oppose.

Ending birthright citizenship and reducing visas

More Asian Americans oppose than favor eliminating birthright citizenship, reducing family-sponsored visas, and reducing temporary work visas. A complex picture emerged when the responses are broken down by Asian subgroup, age, and gender. Vietnamese, Filipinos, and Japanese Americans were divided on eliminating the constitutional right to birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents who are here illegally, while Korean Americans strongly opposed. Moreover, older Asian Americans aged 60 and above were divided on eliminating birthright citizenship, while younger Asian Americans aged 18-29 strongly opposed.

A significant number of Asian Americans were found to neither favor nor oppose these key issues. 1 in 4 Asian Americans surveyed neither favor nor oppose reducing family-sponsored or temporary work visas. Additionally, nearly 1 in 3 Asian Indians, a group that benefits the most from work visas, neither favor nor oppose reducing temporary work visas such as H-1B.

A nuanced population

While Trump’s approval dropped most sharply among Asian Americans, their approval and disapproval of his policies are nuanced when disaggregated by issue, party affiliation, Asian subgroup, age, and gender. With 31% of Asian voters identifying as Independent, and many Asian Americans remaining neutral on key issues, Asian American approval and disapproval can shift and be swayed.

Helpful Resources

Evaluations of Trump: Job approval and confidence on issues ( Pew Research Center)

AAPI Data | AP-NORC Survey March-April 2025 (AAPI Data)