{"id":276585,"date":"2025-10-08T14:52:28","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T18:52:28","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-10-13T09:44:21","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T13:44:21","slug":"most-americans-think-trump-is-trying-to-exercise-more-power-than-previous-presidents","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2025\/10\/08\/most-americans-think-trump-is-trying-to-exercise-more-power-than-previous-presidents\/","title":{"rendered":"Most Americans think Trump is trying to exercise more power than previous presidents"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-640-wide\"><img data-dominant-color=\"594b4c\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #594b4c;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" height=\"360\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_featured.jpg?w=640\" alt=\"President Donald Trump listens to a reporter's question during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the White House's Oval Office on Sept. 25. (Andrew Harnik\/Getty Images)\" class=\"wp-image-276610 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_featured.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_featured.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_featured.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_featured.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_featured.jpg?resize=564,317 564w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_featured.jpg?resize=1128,634 1128w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_featured.jpg?resize=690,388 690w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_featured.jpg?resize=268,151 268w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_featured.jpg?resize=536,302 536w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_featured.jpg?resize=194,110 194w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_featured.jpg?resize=148,84 148w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_featured.jpg?resize=296,168 296w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_featured.jpg?resize=720,405 720w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_featured.jpg?resize=200,113 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_featured.jpg?resize=260,146 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_featured.jpg?resize=310,174 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_featured.jpg?resize=420,236 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_featured.jpg?resize=640,360 640w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_featured.jpg?resize=740,416 740w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_featured.jpg?resize=160,90 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_featured.jpg?resize=320,180 320w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_featured.jpg?resize=540,304 540w\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">President Donald Trump listens to a reporter&#8217;s question during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan in the White House&#8217;s Oval Office on Sept. 25. (Andrew Harnik\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Around seven-in-ten Americans (69%) say President Donald Trump is trying to exert more power than his predecessors. And most of those who say this describe Trump\u2019s efforts as a bad thing for the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-640-wide is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=276608\"><img data-dominant-color=\"eeeade\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 420px) 100vw, 420px\" height=\"527\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_1.png?w=640\" alt=\"A pie chart showing that about 7 in 10 Americans say Trump is trying to exercise more power than previous presidents.\" class=\"wp-image-276608 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #eeeade; width:420px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_1.png 840w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_1.png?resize=300,247 300w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_1.png?resize=768,633 768w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_1.png?resize=492,405 492w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_1.png?resize=200,165 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_1.png?resize=260,214 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_1.png?resize=310,255 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_1.png?resize=420,346 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_1.png?resize=640,527 640w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_1.png?resize=740,610 740w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_1.png?resize=160,132 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_1.png?resize=320,264 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Overall,<strong> 49% of U.S. adults say Trump is trying to exercise more presidential power than previous presidents <em>and<\/em> that this is bad for the country. <\/strong>A much smaller share (12%) say he is trying to use more power and view this as good for the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Around one-in-five adults (21%) say Trump is trying to exercise about the same amount of power as other recent presidents. Only 2% say he is trying to exercise less presidential power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-style-plus-icon has-border-color has-ui-gray-light-border-color has-ui-beige-very-light-background-color has-background has-sans-serif-font-family is-layout-flow wp-container-core-details-is-layout-61b01db2 wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-width:1px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);font-size:clamp(0.875em, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2em) * 0.009), 0.88em);\"><summary>How we did this<\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pew Research Center conducted this study to assess the public\u2019s attitudes of President Donald Trump\u2019s performance in office and use of executive authority. For this analysis, we surveyed 3,445 adults from Sept. 22 to 28, 2025. Everyone who took part in this survey is a member of the Center\u2019s American Trends Panel (ATP), a group of people recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses who have agreed to take surveys regularly. This kind of recruitment gives nearly all U.S. adults a chance of selection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Interviews were conducted either online or by telephone with a live interviewer. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education, presidential vote (among voters) and other factors. <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/our-methods\/u-s-surveys\/the-american-trends-panel\/\">Read more about the ATP\u2019s methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_questionnaire.pdf\">questions used for this analysis<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_topline.pdf\">topline<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2025\/10\/03\/israel-hamas-conflict-methodology\/\">survey methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is a wide partisan split on this question:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents overwhelmingly say Trump is pushing the power of the presidency beyond what other recent presidents did and that this is bad for the country.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Republicans and Republican leaners are more divided: About half (49%) say Trump is trying to exert more power \u2013 and among those who say this, more say it\u2019s good for the country than say it\u2019s bad.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-640-wide is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=276607\"><img data-dominant-color=\"eae8e5\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 420px) 100vw, 420px\" height=\"789\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_2.png?w=640\" alt=\"A diverging bar chart showing that majorities say Trump has used his office improperly; fewer say he has improved government, U.S. standing.\" class=\"wp-image-276607 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #eae8e5; width:420px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_2.png 840w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_2.png?resize=243,300 243w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_2.png?resize=768,947 768w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_2.png?resize=830,1024 830w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_2.png?resize=328,405 328w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_2.png?resize=200,247 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_2.png?resize=260,321 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_2.png?resize=310,382 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_2.png?resize=420,518 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_2.png?resize=640,789 640w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_2.png?resize=740,913 740w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_2.png?resize=160,197 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_2.png?resize=320,395 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new Pew Research Center survey of 3,455 U.S. adults, conducted Sept. 22-28, also finds that majorities of Americans say that since taking office in January, Trump <em>definitely or probably has<\/em> improperly used his office to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Punish those who say things he does not like (66%)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enrich himself or his friends and family (61%)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encourage federal investigations of his political opponents (62%)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Similar majorities say Trump definitely or probably<em> has not<\/em> set a high moral standard for the presidency (64%), improved U.S. standing around the world (60%), run an open and transparent administration (60%), or improved the way government works (59%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These views largely echo <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2025\/09\/30\/americans-view-trump-vance-and-congressional-leaders-in-both-parties-more-negatively-than-positively\/\">Trump\u2019s overall job approval rating<\/a> in the new survey: 58% of Americans disapprove while 40% approve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-republicans-and-democrats-view-trump-s-presidency-use-of-executive-power\">How Republicans and Democrats view Trump\u2019s presidency, use of executive power<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-640-wide is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=276609\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f4f3f3\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 420px) 100vw, 420px\" height=\"777\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_3.png?w=640\" alt=\"A dot plot showing that partisans differ over how Trump has governed.\" class=\"wp-image-276609 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f4f3f3; width:420px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_3.png 840w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_3.png?resize=247,300 247w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_3.png?resize=768,933 768w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_3.png?resize=334,405 334w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_3.png?resize=200,243 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_3.png?resize=260,316 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_3.png?resize=310,376 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_3.png?resize=420,510 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_3.png?resize=640,777 640w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_3.png?resize=740,899 740w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_3.png?resize=160,194 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_3.png?resize=320,389 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As was the case in <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2019\/08\/16\/most-democrats-are-excited-by-several-2020-candidates-not-just-their-top-choice\/#views-of-trump-s-presidency\">Trump\u2019s first term<\/a>, there are wide partisan divisions in assessments of his performance as president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At least seven-in-ten Republicans say that in his current term, Trump <em>definitely or probably<\/em> has improved the way government works (74%), improved the country\u2019s standing in the world (73%) and run an open and transparent administration (70%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A smaller majority of Republicans (63%) say Trump has set a high moral standard for the presidency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nine-in-ten or more Democrats say Trump <em>hasn\u2019t<\/em> done each of these things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By contrast, Democrats are much more likely than Republicans to say Trump has improperly used his office in various ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Roughly nine-in-ten Democrats say Trump has improperly used his office to punish those who say things he does not like (90% say this) and used his office to enrich himself or his friends and family (89%). Almost as many (85%) say he has improperly encouraged federal investigations of his political opponents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among Republicans, 42% say Trump has improperly used his office to punish those who say things he doesn\u2019t like, while a nearly identical share (40%) say he has improperly encouraged federal investigations of political opponents. About three-in-ten Republicans (31%) say Trump has improperly used the office to enrich himself or his family or friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the most part, Americans\u2019 views on these questions are on par with their views during Trump\u2019s first term. But Americans are more likely today (61%) than in 2019 (56%) to say Trump has improperly used his office to enrich himself or his friends and family, and this is the case in both parties:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>89% of Democrats now say this, up from 84% in 2019.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>31% of Republicans say this, up from 23%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, Republicans are more likely today than in 2019 to say that Trump has set a high moral standard for the presidency (63% vs. 57%). Few Democrats say this today (8%), as was the case six years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-partisans-see-trump-s-use-of-executive-power\">How partisans see Trump\u2019s use of executive power<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-640-wide is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=276606\"><img data-dominant-color=\"eeebe2\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 420px) 100vw, 420px\" height=\"686\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_4.png?w=640\" alt=\"A pie and bar chart showing that Democrats overwhelmingly say Trump is trying to exercise more presidential power and that is bad for the country; Republicans are more divided.\" class=\"wp-image-276606 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #eeebe2; width:420px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_4.png 840w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_4.png?resize=280,300 280w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_4.png?resize=768,823 768w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_4.png?resize=378,405 378w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_4.png?resize=200,214 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_4.png?resize=260,279 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_4.png?resize=310,332 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_4.png?resize=420,450 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_4.png?resize=640,686 640w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_4.png?resize=740,793 740w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_4.png?resize=160,171 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_4.png?resize=320,343 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans and Democrats have different views of whether Trump is trying to exercise more power than other recent presidents \u2013 and whether that is good or bad for the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Roughly half of Republicans (49%) say Trump is trying to exercise more presidential power than his predecessors, while 41% say he is exercising about the same amount. Only 3% say he is trying to exercise less power, while 7% say they are unsure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>About a quarter of Republicans (24%)<\/strong> <strong>say Trump is trying to exercise more presidential power than his predecessors <em>and<\/em> that this is good for the country. <\/strong>Fewer Republicans (14%) say he is doing this and that it is bad for the country. One-in-ten say he is doing this but they are not sure whether it is good or bad for the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrats overwhelmingly say Trump is trying to exercise more presidential power than previous presidents (90%), while much smaller shares say he is exercising about the same amount (3%), less (2%) or that they are unsure (5%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Roughly eight-in-ten Democrats (83%) say Trump is trying to exert more presidential power <em>and<\/em> that this is bad for the country.<\/strong> Far fewer Democrats say he is doing this and that it is good for the country (1%) or that they are unsure of its impact (4%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-americans-view-trump-s-use-of-executive-orders\">How Americans view Trump\u2019s use of executive orders<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the new survey,<strong> roughly half of Americans (51%) say Trump is doing too much by executive order,<\/strong> while 6% say he is doing too little. About a quarter (27%) say Trump is doing about the right amount, while 16% are unsure. This is <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2025\/04\/23\/views-of-how-the-trump-administration-governs\/\">nearly identical to the public\u2019s views in April<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-640-wide is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=276605\"><img data-dominant-color=\"eeebe5\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"620\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_5.png?w=620\" alt=\"A horizontal stacked bar chart showing that roughly half of Americans say Trump is doing too much by executive order.\" class=\"wp-image-276605 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #eeebe5; width:310px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_5.png 620w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_5.png?resize=300,279 300w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_5.png?resize=436,405 436w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_5.png?resize=200,186 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_5.png?resize=260,242 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_5.png?resize=310,288 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_5.png?resize=420,390 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_5.png?resize=160,149 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_5.png?resize=320,297 320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Today, 80% of Democrats say Trump is doing too much by executive order. Much smaller shares say he is doing about the right amount (5%) or too little (4%).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>More than half of Republicans (54%) say Trump is doing about the right amount by executive order. Roughly two-in-ten say he\u2019s doing too much (23%), while 7% say he\u2019s doing too little.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Views in both partisan coalitions are also largely unchanged from last April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Note: Here are the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_questionnaire.pdf\">questions used for this analysis<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_topline.pdf\">topline<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2025\/10\/03\/israel-hamas-conflict-methodology\/\">survey methodology<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>49% of U.S. adults say Trump is trying to exercise more presidential power than previous presidents and that this is bad for the country.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":658,"featured_media":276610,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"sub_headline":"","sub_title":"","_crdt_document":"","_prc_public_revisions":[],"_ppp_expiration_hours":0,"_ppp_enabled":false,"ai_generated_summary":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"relatedPosts":[],"_prc_fork_parent":0,"_prc_fork_status":"","_prc_active_fork":0,"datacite_doi":"","datacite_doi_citation":"","_prc_seo_qr_attachment_id":0,"spoken_article_player_enabled":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[68,76,420],"bylines":[608,2768],"collection":[],"datasets":[],"_post_visibility":[],"formats":[467],"_fund_pool":[],"languages":[],"regions-countries":[515],"research-teams":[520],"class_list":["post-276585","short-read","type-short-read","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-donald-trump","category-government","category-u-s-democracy","bylines-andy-cerda","bylines-steven-shepard","formats-short-read","regions-countries-united-states","research-teams-politics"],"label":"Short Read","post_parent":0,"word_count":1148,"canonical_url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2025\/10\/08\/most-americans-think-trump-is-trying-to-exercise-more-power-than-previous-presidents\/","art_direction":{"A2":{"id":276610,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_featured.jpg","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/10\/SR_25.10.08_trump-exec-power_featured.jpg?w=268&h=151&crop=1","width":268,"height":151,"caption":"President Donald Trump listens to a reporter's question during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the White House's Oval Office on Sept. 25. 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