A recent poll indicates that, despite ongoing protests and recent riots across the nation, a majority of voters still back President Trump’s immigration policies. His approval stands at 51%, just edging out a 49% disapproval rate related to border security and immigration management, according to findings from NBC News Decision Desk.
This month, protests erupted in Los Angeles following actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), prompting Trump to federalize and deploy California’s National Guard. Over the weekend, coordinated protests by progressive groups took place, seemingly linked to the Army’s 250th anniversary parade, with many immigrants active in these events.
Last week, Trump shifted his focus on immigration towards deporting criminals instead of addressing the status of undocumented workers. Poll data still shows that immigration is a significant issue for him. Overall, his approval sits at 45%, with 55% disapproving—reflected in earlier survey results.
The poll also highlights divisions within the Republican Party regarding the overarching objectives of a “big beautiful bill.” Respondents expressed various priorities: 40% aimed to ensure national debt reductions, 39% favored tax cuts, while 21% wanted to maintain existing Medicaid expenditure levels. Notably, both independents (53%) and Democrats (79%) showed a preference for keeping Medicaid intact.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, a version of this bill could lead to a $3 trillion national deficit in the upcoming decade. The proposal cuts primarily affect Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by an estimated net of $1.25 trillion against tax cuts.
Some Senate Republicans, like Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), are pushing for additional cuts. Concerns regarding the bill’s impact on the deficit have prompted tech mogul Elon Musk to criticize Trump’s stance earlier this month. The legislation would impose work requirements for Medicaid, a program that currently covers over 70 million low-income Americans.
With other adjustments, Republicans are targeting around $700 billion in savings from Medicaid over a decade, although it’s estimated that upwards of 7.8 million Americans could lose their health insurance due to these reforms.
Medicaid policy has consistently drawn attention, with Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) making it a focal point, facing scrutiny from other GOP members like Lisa Murkowski (R-Ak.) and Susan Collins (R-Me.) as they attempt to moderate this substantial legislation.
The “big beautiful bill” is seen as a crucial legislative win for Trump, with GOP leaders aiming to finalize it by July 4. However, that timeline appears increasingly challenging. Major Senate committees are poised to unveil a revised version of the bill this week, which will still need to pass through the House before reaching Trump’s desk.
The NBC News Decision Desk Poll included responses from 19,410 adults between May 30 and June 10, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.1 percentage points.
