A recent poll shows that many Americans view tariffs as detrimental to the domestic economy. According to the Marist survey released on Thursday, 56% of participants believe that imposing tariffs on imports negatively affects the U.S. economy. In contrast, 31% think tariffs could boost the economy, while 12% feel there would be no major impact either way.
Among political affiliations, 87% of Democrats and 63% of independents see tariffs as harmful, whereas only 20% of Republicans share that view. Interestingly, 66% of Republicans believe tariffs could actually benefit the economy.
David Hebert, an economist at the American Institute for Economic Research, highlighted that tariffs have increased raw material costs, placing strain on manufacturing and construction sectors. He mentioned a decline of 63,000 jobs in manufacturing and a drop of over 100,000 job openings in that industry, indicating a worrying trend despite hopes for economic growth through infrastructure investment.
The timing of the poll comes nearly a year after President Trump announced major tariffs on several trading partners, asserting these measures would “make America rich again.” Some food prices have reportedly risen as a result of these tariffs, which Hebert pointed out. He also noted that tariffs have alienated potential trade partners and bolstered countries like China and India, raising questions about national security.
In a statement, White House Press Secretary Khush Desai insisted that Trump’s tariffs have already brought in significant job investments and helped reshape trade agreements beneficial to American workers. She expressed confidence that positive outcomes will continue as these agreements unfold.
The survey also found that a majority of Americans, 54%, believe that lowering prices should be the top priority for the Trump administration, with only 22% advocating for immigration control as the main focus. A significant number of Democrats (70%) and independents (58%) support price reduction as the administration’s primary goal.
In November 2025, Trump altered the “Emancipation Day” tariffs to exclude certain agricultural products after concerns were raised about their potential negative impact on U.S. companies, which have reported worries over rising prices linked to tariffs.
Despite criticism, the White House maintains that these tariffs are beneficial for the economy. Recent trends in public opinion suggest that many remain skeptical of Trump’s economic management even as the GDP showed a growth rate of 4.4% in Q3 of 2025. The Marist poll, covering 1,462 U.S. adults from January 27 to January 30, has a margin of error of ±2.9 percentage points.
