Americans' Views on the State of Our Democracy
JUN 13
Summary: Our findings explore Americans' attitudes around democracy and its state under the Trump administration. We find that Americans agree upon both the importance of democracy and common principles but diverge as to how the Trump Administration’s actions are affecting our democracy. To read our findings in full, go to Shared Ideals, Divergent Realities.
Over the course of the new Administration, President Trump has issued a wave of executive orders and actions that not only have advanced his agenda, but have accelerated and tested the boundaries of presidential power.
While the substance of the Trump Administration’s policies has sparked much debate, a significant amount of public discourse has centered on how they are being implemented—and whether they are violating democratic principles and practices. Just this week, President Trump deployed the U.S. National Guard to Los Angeles and sent in U.S. Marines to protect federal buildings and officers in response to protests, which he and his cabinet officials described as an “insurrection.” Yet there have been growing concerns, including among with civil society and democracy experts, that the Administration’s response creates a “precedent for enabling federal overreach.”
With questions around American democracy once again taking center stage, we wanted to highlight some research we did earlier this year around the following questions:
Do Americans value democracy and its core principles?
And how do they view the state of democracy under President Trump?
To answer these questions, we surveyed more than 2,000 US adults followed by conversations with over 200 Americans on our Americans in Conversationpanel in February and March 2025. Here’s what we found:
1. A majority of Americans, across party lines, support upholding democratic principles and constitutional norms.
We find that support for democratic principles and constitutional norms remain high among Americans. For instance, seven in ten US adults agree that “the President should always act within the rules of the Constitution,” including 71 percent of Republicans, 72 percent of Independents, and 83 percent of Democrats.
These high levels of agreement remain even when we asked about President Trump: seven in ten Americans (including seven out of ten Republicans) say President Trump “should always follow the Constitution, even if it means he can’t get things done.”
While Americans may disagree on cuts being made to the federal workforce, there also is strong agreement (71 percent) that public servants should not be subject to threats or harassment, including 65 percent of Republicans and 84 percent of Democrats.
“The Constitution is the law of the land and government needs to operate under it and find solutions that would not violate our rights.”
Luca, 48-year-old Hispanic man, Independent (Trump voter) from El Paso, Texas
“Democratic principles are what help keep our country in balance. If we set those aside (even for good reasons) it means that we can no longer operate on those principles in the future or trust the system to function as it should.”
James, 37-year-old white man, Democrat (Harris voter) from Allen, Texas
2. Yet Republicans and Democrats diverge on whether the Trump Administration’s actions pose threats to our democracy.
When it comes to how Americans perceive the health of our democracy under the Trump Administration, we see a sharp partisan divergence. Most Republicans view his policies as efforts to fight corruption and serve the public, while most Democrats see them as self-serving and a threat to democratic norms.
Over four in five Democrats (81 percent) believe that President Trump “hopes to become a tyrant or dictator,” whereas less than one in five Republicans agree (16 percent). And 79 percent of Democrats say that “Donald Trump’s presidency” is the greater threat to the US whereas 60 percent of Republicans say “courts, judges, and bureaucracy in DC” pose a greater threat.
Americans also diverge sharply in how they interpret the intent and legitimacy of the Trump Administration’s actions. Over three in four Republicans (77 percent) think that President Trump’s reforms are “tackling dysfunction and corruption,” compared to 13 percent of Democrats. On the other hand, nearly 80 percent of Democrats say President Trump’s reforms are “threatening our country’s democracy and Constitution,” while only 15 percent of Republicans agree.
When it comes to the debate over whether our democracy is under threat, there are fundamental differences on who is to blame.
“The core principles must be upheld, however, I find it hypocritical to accuse Trump of unconstitutional acts when the prior administration broke every norm to prevent him from being able to run for office again.”
Brandon, 44-year-old white man, Independent (Trump voter) from Cincinnati, Ohio
“Checks and balances were intentionally written in to our Constitution to avoid exactly what the president is trying to do – centralize power under him. No one person should have absolute control over all government operations.”
Melissa, 41-year-old white woman, Independent (Harris voter) from Durham, North Carolina
3. Overall, Americans are generally more concerned than confident about American democracy under President Trump, and want more federal checks and balances—driven by strong majorities of Democrats, most Independents, and a minority of Republicans.
More Americans fear authoritarianism than not under President Trump. While an overwhelming number of Democrats (81 percent) agree that “President Trump hopes to become a tyrant or dictator,” nearly half of Independents also agree, indicating that concern goes beyond Democratic affiliation. Similarly, less than a third of Americans (28 percent) believe our judiciary and bureaucracy pose a greater threat to the US than the Trump Administration, far lower than Republican levels of agreement (60 percent).
When it comes to concerns around our democracy, Americans' greatest consensus is on congressional oversight. Half of Americans, including 1 in 4 Republicans, say Congress isn’t providing enough oversight of the Trump Administration—compared to just 21 percent of Americans who think it is.
What does this mean for Americans working to strengthen our democracy?
A critical first step is recognizing where Americans do and do not diverge. Our research shows that Americans across the political spectrum both value and have a desire to uphold our democratic principles. For organizations or individuals who have an interest in strengthening America’s democracy, the task ahead is not necessarily about persuading Americans that democracy matters. It is also about understanding – and engaging with – how different Americans perceive threats to our democratic systems and institutions.
This calls for attentiveness to specific issues and moments, particularly around government actions that most Americans across party lines may feel unease with. We may be in such a flashpoint right now: a YouGov poll from June 10, for instance, shows that a plurality of Americans disapprove sending the National Guard to Los Angeles. Yet for those who do approve or are unsure, understanding what is driving their perceptions (e.g., seeing a need to defend federal officers and buildings or believing that the unrest is a greater threat to democracy) is critical.
By having a deeper understanding of how Americans perceive threats to democracy, those sounding the alarm can communicate more effectively with people who care about democracy but may not feel the same sense of urgency. Each flashpoint offers an opportunity to build a shared reality by acknowledging hesitations, clarifying what’s at stake, using urgency strategically, and grounding the conversation in our shared values.
Over the long term, engaging with Americans’ divergent realities in good faith can help build support for the institutional safeguards that provide greater resiliency against democratic backsliding.
Related Work:
Is Gen Z Giving Up on Democracy?
Only 42 percent of Gen Z thinks that democracy is “definitely” the best form of government for America. But does this mean that they are “embracing dictatorships” instead? Not quite.
Read our study exploring Gen Z’s attitudes towards democracy here and our newsletter about it here.
Webinar Alert:
Are you part of an organization working to advance pluralism, bridge divides, or strengthen democracy —and looking to expand your reach online?
Join us for a free 90-minute webinar, Expanding the Impact of the Pluralism Movement on Social Media, on Monday, June 23rd at 2:00pm ET. Based on insights from a year-long study of the pluralism movement’s digital footprint, this session is designed for communications professionals and organizational leaders seeking actionable strategies to harness social media more strategically, boost digital impact, and make their mission resonate with new audiences.
Additional details and registration here: Zoom Registration Link
Co-hosted by More in Common, BridgeUSA, More Perfect Union, and Listen First Project.
We can’t do this without you!
MIC regularly conducts research that sheds light on both cross-group misperceptions and common ground. Consider supporting our work by making a donation.
📩 Know someone who may enjoy our newsletter? Have them sign up here
📝 If you want to read our past newsletters, go to our homepage.
📊 Read all of our reports at www.moreincommonus.com
Thank you for reading the More in Common US Newsletter!
If this newsletter went to your spam or promotions inbox, please mark the moreincommon@substack.com address as “not spam,” so you won’t miss out on future insights.
