Trump’s favorability among Asian Americans plummets

President Donald Trump’s favorability rating among Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults has dropped sharply since late 2024, according to a new AAPI Data and AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll.

The survey, conducted June 3 to June 11, interviewed 1,130 AAPI adults in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese and Korean. The poll found that 71% of AAPI adults now view Trump unfavorably, up from 60% in December 2024.

About 80% of AAPI adults expect Trump’s tariff policies to increase consumer prices and fewer than 40% believe tariffs will benefit U.S. manufacturing. Only 25% expect more jobs as a result, while nearly half of those polled actually anticipate job losses.

Two thirds of respondents said they are extremely or very concerned about a possible recession, compared to 53% of adults nationally. A majority of AAPI adults also disapprove of Trump’s policy priorities, with 55% saying he is focusing on the wrong issues and most criticizing his handling of the economy, trade negotiations and government spending.

Most respondents oppose eliminating agencies such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Department of Education, and a majority support continued investment in health care, education and economic stability. Previous polling by AAPI Data and AP-NORC in late 2024 showed nearly as many AAPI adults opposed mass deportation proposals as supported stricter enforcement.

A recent CBS News/YouGov poll found a majority of Americans now oppose Trump’s mass deportation plan, with 54% describing it as too aggressive and most saying it would affect mostly nonviolent individuals.

Independent voters within the AAPI community have shown the sharpest decline in support for Trump, with nearly 70% now holding an unfavorable view, a jump of about 20 percentage points since December. This figure is significantly higher than the 52% unfavorable rating among all independents nationwide. The drop in Trump’s favorability comes as attitudes toward government priorities and immigration continue to shift ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.