A new Gallup poll has sent shockwaves through political circles, revealing a dramatic shift in American attitudes on immigration — and posing serious trouble for former President Donald Trump, whose hardline immigration stance has long been a central pillar of his political brand.
Gallup reported Friday that a record-high 79% of U.S. adults now view immigration as a “good thing” for the country, while just 17% say it’s a “bad thing” — the lowest ever recorded.
Perhaps even more striking: only 30% of Americans now say they want immigration levels decreased, down significantly from 55% just a year ago. Support for Trump’s signature policies — such as the border wall and mass deportations — is also in clear decline, according to the survey.
The findings, collected between June 2 and June 26 from a representative sample of 1,402 adults, included oversamples of Black and Hispanic respondents and were weighted to match national demographics.
Experts: “Stunning,” “Backlash Politics,” and “Bloodbath”
Reacting to the data, CNN’s Aaron Blake described the numbers as “stunning,” particularly among independent voters — nearly 70% disapprove of Trump’s handling of immigration, despite recent declines in illegal border crossings.
Blake noted that while other polls haven’t shown quite as sharp a drop, the trend is clear. A Marist poll last month found independents disapproving 59-36 of Trump’s immigration approach — still a wide margin.
At Zateo News, Prem Thacker criticized Democrats for years of political hesitation, writing: “It’s almost like Americans were never fundamentally anti-immigration — and Democrats never had to cower and echo Republican anti-immigrant rhetoric.”
Tim Young of Global Refuge remarked that “the pendulum has swung drastically since last year,” while David J. Bier of the libertarian Cato Institute didn’t mince words, calling the poll “an absolute bloodbath for Trump.”
NBC News’ Sahil Kapur pointed to what he termed “backlash politics” — the idea that years of extreme enforcement and harsh rhetoric may have driven the public in the opposite direction. And journalist Doug Henwood added simply: “Support for immigration hits a record; Trump deep underwater on the issue.”
A Political Liability?
While Trump has often touted immigration as the issue that energizes his base, the Gallup findings suggest he may be increasingly out of step with the broader electorate, particularly independents and moderates he needs to win in a general election.
Gallup’s data not only undermines Trump’s narrative of a national immigration “crisis” but also opens the door for Democrats and immigration advocates to reframe the conversation.
As Trump doubles down on promises to bring back aggressive deportation raids and finish building his border wall, the American public appears to be moving in a starkly different direction — one that could have significant implications heading into 2026.
