Poll Reveals Majority of Americans Believe Trump Prioritizes Personal Wealth Over National Interests

A new nationwide poll indicates that a majority of U.S. adults perceive President Donald Trump as having prioritized his personal financial interests and those of his close associates above the nation's well-being since his return to the White House in 2025. The survey, released Tuesday by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, highlights a predominantly critical public view of the Republican president's second term. Over half of the adults surveyed believe Trump has significantly focused on his own business and commercial ventures, investing in them "a lot." In contrast, approximately a quarter of respondents feel he concentrates on national interests, with only 11 percent believing Trump represents ordinary Americans. Among Republicans surveyed, 55 percent stated that Trump has prioritized his personal business interests to "a lot" or "some" extent. Half of all respondents reported that Trump has given zero priority to individuals "like them." As the Trump Organization experiences substantial financial gains from new ventures, reportedly bolstered by his policies, the poll results suggest that a significant portion of U.S. adults view the growth of his personal finances as a primary driver of his presidency, at least to some degree.

President Trump's financial disclosure in June revealed considerable post-election capital inflows from foreign and corporate sources into his business empire. These influxes were largely attributed to over $1 billion in cryptocurrency ventures, following deregulation of the industry, and international real estate dealings. During his initial year as president, the Trump Organization, a multinational family enterprise involved in property development and global brand licensing, engaged in eight real estate transactions with authoritarian or one-party foreign states. It is speculated that these nations were highly motivated to maintain favorable relations with the U.S. to ensure Trump's satisfaction regarding trade tariffs, military support, and private business opportunities.

The administration has consistently refuted concerns regarding Trump's business conflicts of interest, asserting that his actions are exclusively in the best interest of Americans. A separate Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in late September indicated a decline in Trump's approval rating to 32 percent, the lowest point in his political career. This dip coincides with growing dissatisfaction among Republicans regarding his handling of the cost of living crisis and the widely unpopular Iran war. The decrease in performance and approval ratings follows a high of 47 percent in January 2025, shortly after his inauguration.

The AP-NORC poll, which surveyed over 2,000 U.S. adults in late September, reveals a highly polarized public sentiment concerning the administration's ethical conduct. A significant majority of citizens feel that the president has not prioritized either the country as a whole or everyday Americans. Just over 40 percent of respondents believe Trump has engaged in illegal activities related to allegations of personal enrichment while in office, with an additional 18 percent viewing his financial dealings as "unethical but not illegal." Opinions on the legality of the president's financial practices are sharply divided along party lines. Democrats overwhelmingly consider his actions illegal, while approximately three in ten independents and about one in ten Republicans largely view his behavior as justified.