GET THE APP
Monday, February 23, 2026

Tag: America First
February 24, 2025
William Upton
Data

DATA: Trump’s Policies Overwhelmingly Popular, Approval Rating Now Over 50 Percent.

President Donald J. Trump‘s policy agenda is resonating with American votes, receiving overwhelming support in a Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll released on Monday. Additionally, the survey shows President Trump’s job approval surging to 52 percent, with just 43 percent saying they disapprove.

The most popular of Trump’s policies is his move to deport illegal immigrants who have committed crimes. According to the data, 81 percent of respondents say they support the policy, while just 19 percent say they oppose it. Likewise, President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, and its efforts to cut government fraud, waste, and abuse also receive broad support. The survey indicates 76 percent of those polled back DOGE’s efforts. Only 24 percent say they oppose the cuts.

Trump’s decision to close southern border crossings also holds popular support, mirroring DOGE’s survey results. Meanwhile, the America First leader’s decision to ban men from playing women’s sports has 69 percent support, with 31 percent opposed. Similarly, Trump’s directive that government forms only include two genders, male and female, is supported by 68 percent of respondents, with 32 percent opposed.

Trump’s tariffs are also popular. A total of 61 percent say they support President Trump imposing tariffs on foreign imports. Only 39 percent say they oppose Trump’s tariff policies.

The two most unpopular Trump administration policies are efforts to cut government spending authorized by Congress, with 41 percent of respondents saying they oppose the move. However, the policy remains popular overall, with 59 percent saying they support the cuts. The decision to end the Biden government’s bans on offshore drilling is the least popular policy, with 43 percent of those polled stating they oppose ending the bans—but 57 percent stating they support Trump’s decision.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

show less
President Donald J. Trump's policy agenda is resonating with American votes, receiving overwhelming support in a Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll released on Monday. Additionally, the survey shows President Trump's job approval surging to 52 percent, with just 43 percent saying they disapprove. show more
February 11, 2025
Data
Politics

Trump’s Approval Rating Hits All-Time High in New Poll.

President Donald J. Trump‘s approval rating has now hit a historic high in polling by the Pew Research Center, reflecting other surveys showing similar peak results. The Pew Research data has Trump’s approval currently sitting at 47 percent, higher than at any point during his first term in office from 2017 until 2021.

Notably, 28 percent of adults surveyed say President Trump is exceeding their expectations. Meanwhile, 36 percent say the America First leader is doing about as well as they thought he would. Conversely, 35 percent of respondents say Trump is doing worse than they expected.

Views on how Trump will impact the federal government’s functions are statistically evenly split, with 41 percent saying he will make things function better and 42 percent saying they will function worse. Trump enjoys strong approval among Republicans, with 76 percent saying Trump will improve federal government operations. Among Democrats, 78 percent say he will make federal government operations worse.

Including those who lean Republican, 67 percent say they support some or all of Trumop’s policies so far. Among those who lean Democrat, 84 percent say they don’t support some or all of Trump’s actions.

The first three weeks of Trump’s second term in the White House have seen a fast and furious push to implement his presidential agenda. President Trump has signed a bevy of executive orders that have closed the U.S. border with Mexico, authorized a major crackdown on illegal immigration, the mass deportation of illegal immigrants, the imposition of tariffs on foreign goods like steel and aluminum, and the abolition of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the federal government and among federal contractors.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

show less
President Donald J. Trump's approval rating has now hit a historic high in polling by the Pew Research Center, reflecting other surveys showing similar peak results. The Pew Research data has Trump's approval currently sitting at 47 percent, higher than at any point during his first term in office from 2017 until 2021. show more
February 4, 2025
Data
Politics

Trump Reaches Peak Popularity Amidst Aggressive Second Term Start.

President Donald J. Trump continues to ride a wave of public popularity following his landslide 2024 election victory in November. Recent polls show Trump’s public approval rating hitting a historic high, with data from Real Clear Politics indicating 48.8 percent of voters have a favorable impression of the America First leader, above the 47.9 percent who view him unfavorably.

The wave of support for Trump is largely driven by his aggressive implementation of the America First agenda he campaigned on. President Trump has signed a bevy of executive orders during his first two weeks in the White House, launching a mass deportation operation to address the country’s illegal immigration crisis, a partial shutdown of the U.S. border with Mexico, and the imposition of tariffs on Chinese goods.

Additionally, tariff threats against Canada and Mexico brought the two American neighbors into alignment with President Trump’s efforts to crack down on illegal border crossings and the illicit drug trade—especially the trafficking of fentanyl.

President Trump’s fast-paced enactment of his agenda is garnering broad support among the American electorate. A recent survey found that 39 percent of registered voters now say they view Trump more favorably as he’s taken unprecedented action to reverse American decline under former President Joe Biden.

The National Pulse previously reported that survey data suggests nearly two-thirds of Americans support the actions taken by President Trump during his first week in office. Additionally, a majority of Americans say they approve of Trump’s cabinet picks.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

show less
President Donald J. Trump continues to ride a wave of public popularity following his landslide 2024 election victory in November. Recent polls show Trump's public approval rating hitting a historic high, with data from Real Clear Politics indicating 48.8 percent of voters have a favorable impression of the America First leader, above the 47.9 percent who view him unfavorably. show more
February 3, 2025
Jack Montgomery
Economy
News

Top US Steel Producer Backs Trump’s ‘America First’ Tariffs.

Nucor Corp., the largest steel producer in the United States, is supporting the tariffs imposed by President Donald J. Trump on China, Canada, and Mexico. “Nucor applauds the first steps taken by President Trump in his America First Trade Agenda,” said Leon J. Topalian, Nucor’s chairman, president, and CEO. We look forward to working with President Trump to enforce our trade laws and strengthen American manufacturing!”

Trump’s order, signed on Saturday, introduces tariffs through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, effective Tuesday. The order applies a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10 percent tariff on imports from China. However, a one-month delay has been agreed at the eleventh hour for the Mexico tariffs, as the Hispanic country negotiates with the Trump administration. Canadian energy imports will face a reduced 10 percent tariff.

President Trump is introducing the tariffs in response to threats stemming from illegal immigration and the trafficking of drugs, such as fentanyl, into the U.S. Trump wants America’s neighbors to take meaningful and decisive action against these cross-border threats on their end.

Topalian, appearing on CNBC, endorsed the upcoming tariffs, highlighting their potential to address a range of economic issues: “I think they’re going to be far-reaching, and I think they’re going to be very broad to, again, stop the illegal dumping, the manipulation, currency manipulation and subsidization of steels coming into the shores of the U.S.,” he said.

Image via Pexels.

show less
Nucor Corp., the largest steel producer in the United States, is supporting the tariffs imposed by President Donald J. Trump on China, Canada, and Mexico. "Nucor applauds the first steps taken by President Trump in his America First Trade Agenda," said Leon J. Topalian, Nucor's chairman, president, and CEO. We look forward to working with President Trump to enforce our trade laws and strengthen American manufacturing!" show more
January 27, 2025
William Upton
TRUMP TRANSITION 2024/5

BREAKING: Senate Confirms Trump Treasury Nominee Scott Bessent.

The United States Senate has confirmed Scott Bessent to serve as the 79th U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. Nominated by President Donald J. Trump, the macro fund manager received bipartisan support in the Senate, with his nomination easily clearing the chamber.

Bessent, 61, was an early Trump backer, donating a million dollars to his 2016 presidential campaign. He has helped raise nearly $60 million for Trump since. Bessent was an integral figure in monetary markets in the 1990s and early 2000s. During Trump’s first presidential administration, Steven Terner Mnuchin served in the role for all four years, assisting President Trump in building one of the most robust American economies in history.

Prior to his confirmation, Bessent laid out an aggressive plan to implement President Trump’s America First economic agenda. The new Treasury Secretary contends the Trump White House will continue to strengthen the dollar and use tariffs to encourage the re-shoring of American jobs from overseas.

The National Pulse previously reported that Bessent took globalist Bloomberg to task over the impact of illegal immigration on wages and the American economy. According to the Secretary of the Treasury, the Biden government’s policy of mass immigration undeniably suppressed the wages of American workers—an act he calls “abominable.”

Bessent added that if borders are left open to illegal immigrants, “per capita GDP per American would drop substantially” and lower the American standard of living.

show less
The United States Senate has confirmed Scott Bessent to serve as the 79th U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. Nominated by President Donald J. Trump, the macro fund manager received bipartisan support in the Senate, with his nomination easily clearing the chamber. show more
January 24, 2025
William Upton
Data

DATA: Nearly Two-Thirds of Americans Approve of Trump’s Job So Far.

A week into his second term in office, nearly two-thirds of Americans say they approve of the job President Donald J. Trump has done so far. A survey conducted by RMG Research reveals Trump’s job approval sits at 57 percent. Meanwhile, just 39 percent of Americans say they disapprove of Trump.

Since taking office on Monday, Trump and his White House have moved swiftly to crack down on illegal immigration and implement tough border security measures. Additionally, the President has made a strong push to streamline the federal government and bring accountability—ending the taxpayer funding of security details for a number of controversial former employees, revoking security clearances for intelligence and foreign policy officials who have abused their privileges, and firing those who allowed the previous Biden government to leave the U.S. border unsecured.

Even before taking office on Monday, January 20, Trump and his team were integral in securing a ceasefire deal between Israel and the Hamas terrorist group, which included the release of hostages taken during the October 7, 2023 attacks by the latter.

The RMG Research data suggests Trump’s quick implementation of his presidential agenda is the primary driver in his rising approval ratings. A survey conducted between late December and early January found that the then-president-elect enjoyed a 52 percent overall approval rating. This climbed to 53 percent and then 54 percent in early to mid-January before reaching 57 percent in the latest survey.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

show less
A week into his second term in office, nearly two-thirds of Americans say they approve of the job President Donald J. Trump has done so far. A survey conducted by RMG Research reveals Trump's job approval sits at 57 percent. Meanwhile, just 39 percent of Americans say they disapprove of Trump. show more
January 20, 2025
William Upton
Politics
TRUMP TRANSITION 2024/5

President Trump Names Acting Agency Heads as He Moves Swiftly to Enact America First Agenda.

President Donald J. Trump has named a number of acting secretaries to oversee federal departments as he moves to swiftly enact the initial stages of his America First agenda. The acting officials are tasked with executing several hundred executive orders addressing national security, energy, and immigration issues—rolling back former President Joe Biden’s radical progressive agenda.

Already, the Trump White House has moved to shutter the controversial Department of Homeland Security (DHS) CBP One app, which the Biden government used to parole hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants into the United States. Additionally, President Trump appears to have directed border agents to close several ports of entry along the southern border with Mexico, including the infamous El Paso checkpoint—a hot spot for so-called asylum seekers.

The acting officials named by President Trump include Gary Washington as Secretary of Agriculture, Jeremy Pelter as  Secretary of Commerce, Robert Salesses as Secretary of Defense, Denise Carter as Secretary of Education, Ingrid Kolb as Secretary of Energy, Dorothy Fink as Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Benjamine Huffman as Secretary of Homeland Security. Additionally, acting officials named by the President are Matthew Ammon as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Walter Cruickshank as Secretary of the Interior, Vincent Micone as Secretary of Labor, Lisa Kenna as Secretary of State, David Lebryk as Secretary of the Treasury, Judith Kaleta as Secretary of Transportation, and Todd Hunter as Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Additionally, federal immigration enforcement attorney James McHenry has been tapped as the acting Attorney General, and Emil Bove—one of President Trump’s criminal defense attorneys—has been named as acting Deputy Attorney General. McHenry and Bove will oversee a large number of pardons and commutations for the January 6 Capitol riot defendants, which are expected to be signed by Trump later today.

show less
President Donald J. Trump has named a number of acting secretaries to oversee federal departments as he moves to swiftly enact the initial stages of his America First agenda. The acting officials are tasked with executing several hundred executive orders addressing national security, energy, and immigration issues—rolling back former President Joe Biden's radical progressive agenda. show more
January 15, 2025
Politics
TRUMP TRANSITION 2024/5

Marco Rubio Declares Postwar Global Order ‘Obsolete’ in Senate Confirmation Hearing.

President-elect Donald J. Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), outlined his vision for an “America First” foreign policy during his Wednesday confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. The Florida Republican declared that the global order that emerged following the Second World War no longer serves American interests and must be remade.

“The postwar global order is not just obsolete; it is now a weapon being used against us,” Rubio told his Senate colleagues. He continued: “We welcomed the Chinese Communist Party into this global order. And they took advantage of all its benefits. But they ignored all its obligations and responsibilities.”

“Instead, they have lied, cheated, hacked, and stolen their way to global superpower status at our expense,” he stated.

“Under President Trump, the top priority of the United States Department of State will be the United States,” Rubio continued, adding: “Every dollar we spend, every program we fund, every policy we pursue, must be justified by the answer to one of three questions: Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?”

UKRAINE, NATO, & IRAN.

Addressing the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, Rubio argued a resolution to the conflict would require concessions by both nations. Additionally, Trump’s Secretary of State nominee told the committee he would continue the President-elect’s policy of urging European countries to take on a more significant role in their security.

During his first presidential administration and on the 2024 campaign trail, Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO members for not upholding their defense spending commitments. However, Rubio—under questioning by the committee—did reaffirm his support for the defense alliance, pointing to his co-sponsorship of legislation intended to prevent the U.S. from withdrawing from NATO.

Turning to Middle Eastern affairs, Rubio discussed the humanitarian issues in Gaza, asserting that while civilian casualties are tragic, the Hamas terrorist group bears significant responsibility for using human shields. He defended Israel’s conduct, stating it does not deliberately target civilians. He also condemned Iran for its nuclear ambitions and funding of terror groups like Hamas, calling for a restoration of Trump’s maximum pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

show less
President-elect Donald J. Trump's nominee for Secretary of State, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), outlined his vision for an "America First" foreign policy during his Wednesday confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. The Florida Republican declared that the global order that emerged following the Second World War no longer serves American interests and must be remade. show more
January 13, 2025
Politics

Trump Lauds Fetterman as ‘Fascinating’ After Mar-a-Lago Meeting.

President-elect Donald J. Trump is praising Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) after the two met at Mar-a-Lago over the weekend. Fetterman, accompanied by his wife Gisele, became the first and—so far—only Democratic Senator to meet with the President-elect.

“It was a totally fascinating meeting. He’s a fascinating man, and his wife is lovely. They were both up, and I couldn’t be more impressed,” Trump said after the weekend meeting with the Pennsylvania Democrat. The President-elect continued: “He’s a commonsense person. He’s not liberal or conservative. He’s just a commonsense person, which is beautiful.”

According to Trump, they discussed a range of topics, including the ongoing Israeli war against the Hamas terrorist group and the Japanese-owned Nippon Steel’s attempted takeover of U.S. Steel. Additionally, Trump and Fetterman discussed the need to ramp up border security to prevent the flood of illegal immigrants into the country, and the President-elect’s aim to acquire Greenland as a U.S. territory.

In a statement responding to Democratic Party pushback against his decision to meet with Trump, Sen. Fetterman emphasized that he does not only represent one political party as a federal lawmaker. “President Trump invited me to meet, and I accepted. I’m the senator for all Pennsylvanians—not just Democrats in Pennsylvania,” Fetterman said, adding: “I’ve been clear that no one is my gatekeeper. I will meet with and have a conversation with anyone if it helps me deliver for Pennsylvania and the nation.”

Fetterman, a progressive and quasi-populist figure who gained attention after winning the 2022 Democratic primary against Conor Lamb, has distinguished himself among Democrats in Congress. At times, he has diverged from the progressive wing of his party on topics like immigration and Israel.

Following Trump’s landslide 2024 presidential election victory, Fetterman warned the corporate media to “chill out” about covering the President-elect. He said, “I’m not rooting against him,” adding that opposition to the president implies opposition to the nation.

Fetterman emphasizes a belief in “Country first.”

Image by Tom Wolf.

show less
President-elect Donald J. Trump is praising Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) after the two met at Mar-a-Lago over the weekend. Fetterman, accompanied by his wife Gisele, became the first and—so far—only Democratic Senator to meet with the President-elect. show more
January 2, 2025
Economy
Politics

Nippon Steel’s Latest Gambit in U.S. Steel Deal.

Japan’s Nippon Steel is proposing granting the U.S. government veto power over any cuts to U.S. Steel to clear the way for its acquisition of the American company. The proposal comes after the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) referred the decision to Joe Biden to either approve or block the merger last week.

Biden, who leaves office on January 20, 2025, has until January 7 to make a decision. Failure to act by this deadline would result in automatic approval of the merger.

A White House spokesman confirmed the receipt of CFIUS’s evaluation, stating that it is under presidential review. The Washington Post previously reported that Nippon Steel has committed to a decade-long assurance against production cuts at U.S. Steel’s domestic facilities, contingent upon approval from a Treasury-led panel.

President-elect Donald J. Trump has repeatedly pledged to block the deal upon assuming office if Biden does not act. “I am totally against the once great and powerful U.S. Steel being bought by a foreign company, in this case Nippon Steel of Japan. Through a series of Tax Incentives and Tariffs, we will make U.S. Steel Strong and Great Again, and it will happen FAST!” President-elect Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social last December. He added: “As President, I will block this deal from happening. Buyer Beware!!!”

The National Pulse reported in March last year that Biden opposes the foreign takeover of U.S. Steel. However, now a lame-duck president, some are concerned that Biden’s pledge may have just been an election ploy and that he now intends to take no action to stop Nippon’s takeover of the American company.

Image via Pexels.

show less
Japan's Nippon Steel is proposing granting the U.S. government veto power over any cuts to U.S. Steel to clear the way for its acquisition of the American company. The proposal comes after the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) referred the decision to Joe Biden to either approve or block the merger last week. show more