FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks, as he signs executive orders and proclamations in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 9, 2025. / REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Photo

A majority of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) adults disapprove of the Trump administration’s stance on key policy issues.

The latest AAPI Data/APNORC Poll released on April 9 shows widespread dissatisfaction among AAPI adults on the administration's handling of trade, the economy and management of government spending, with disapproval levels consistently outpacing those of the general public.

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71 percent of AAPI adults disapprove of President Trump’s approach to economy and trade, 68 percent disapprove of how he is managing the federal government, while  63 percent oppose his handling of government spending. On the whole, 55 percent of the respondents believe Trump is focusing on the wrong policies; only 18 percent thinking otherwise. 

Concerns over government cuts and influence of Elon Musk

The poll also highlights growing concern over the influence of billionaire Elon Musk, who heads the  Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), tasked with reducing government spending. 76 percent of AAPI respondents say Musk wields too much power in federal decision-making. 
 

Most AAPI adults disapprove of Trump policies / AAPI Data/APNORC

Correspondingly, there is strong opposition to DOGE-backed agency cuts, including proposals to eliminate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (69 percent), the Department of Education (67 percent), and the U.S. Agency for International Development (55 percent).

“There is broad consensus in the AAPI community against eliminating key federal agencies and cutting diversity-focused programs,” said Karthick Ramakrishnan, executive director of AAPI Data. “The Trump administration’s priorities are clearly misaligned with the values of many AAPI voters.”

Two-thirds of AAPI adults oppose efforts to eliminate federal diversity and equity initiatives, including programs aimed at expanding access to government resources for AAPI communities and funding for K–12 education on the legacy of slavery and racism in America.

Slight democratic edge

Despite their concerns, AAPI adults remain divided on which party to trust to handle core issues such as the economy, inflation, and immigration, the poll found. Democrats, however,maintain a significant advantage on several policy fronts. 

56 percent of AAPI adults say they trust Democrats more on climate change, compared to just 15 percent who favor Republicans. Similar gaps exist in education (50 percent vs. 19 percent), health care (45 percent vs. 18 percent), and foreign policy (42 percent vs. 25 percent).

“Many in the AAPI community are concerned about which policies the Trump administration is focusing on,” said Jennifer Benz, deputy director of The AP-NORC Center. “Neither party has the faith of the community to address high-priority issues such as economic issues and inflation.”

AAPI Republicans overwhelmingly approve of Trump's handling of the issues, while most Democrats disapprove / AAPI Data/APNORC

Divided on immigration, united on climate concerns

On immigration, AAPI adults express complex and often divided views. While 43 percent support deporting all undocumented immigrants, support drops sharply among younger adults—only 20 percent of those aged 18–29 agree with such measures. 

However, there is broad consensus across age groups when violent crime is involved: 83 percent support the deportation of undocumented immigrants convicted of violent offenses.

The poll also reveals strong opposition to harsh immigration enforcement tactics. A majority of AAPI adults oppose arrests of undocumented individuals in sensitive locations like hospitals (60 percent) and places of worship (52 percent). Just over a quarter (27 percent) support deporting undocumented immigrants if it would result in separating them from U.S.-citizen children.

On legal immigration, AAPI adults tend to favor preserving access. More than half oppose eliminating birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents on temporary visas (56 percent) or those in the country illegally (50 percent). Similarly, many oppose reducing the number of family-sponsored visas or cutting temporary work visas such as H-1Bs.

Climate change also remains a top concern. 8 in 10 AAPI adults report experiencing an extreme weather event in the past five years, and a growing share say climate change is affecting their lives in a major way. Sixty-five percent have endured extreme heat, 46 percent severe winter storms, and 32 percent wildfires.

Compared to the general public, AAPI adults are more likely to believe that climate change has already or will significantly impact their health and livelihoods. Government assistance in response to natural disasters garners wide support, with majorities backing federal aid to rebuild homes (58 percent) and bolster resilience (62 percent), as well as public insurance options for at-risk communities (60 percent).

The survey was conducted by The AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and AAPI Data from March 4–10, 2025 involving 1,182 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders aged 18 and older living in the United States.