Read full report by AP-NORC and AAPI Data.
Summary
According to a recent study by AAPI Data and AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, a growing share of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) adults disapprove of former President Donald Trump’s handling of immigration, with disapproval rising from 58% six months ago to 71%. Two-thirds (67%) believe Trump’s deportation policies have gone too far, compared to 49% of the general public.
The sponsors of the study held a web seminar, “Voices of AAPI Communities,” on October 21 to present their findings. The panelists included Karthick Ramakrishna and Sara Sadhwani (AAPI Data), Greg Orton (NCAPA), Manjush Kulkarni (AAPI Equity Alliance), and Bob Sakaniwa (APIAVote). The recording is posted at the end of this article.
AAPI adults largely disapprove of how Trump is handling a wide range of issues. Compared with the general public, more AAPI adults disapprove of how he is handling trade with other countries (75% vs. 63%), the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (75% vs. 60%), foreign policy (74% vs. 59%), immigration (71% vs. 56%), the economy (74% vs. 62%), and crime (63% vs. 53%).
Ninety-two percent of AAPI adults say the economy is extremely or very important, 89% say the same about inflation, and 79% about jobs.
Foreign-born AAPI adults tend to be older and less Democratic-leaning than U.S.-born counterparts, showing somewhat higher approval of Trump’s handling of crime (43% vs. 24%) and immigration (33% vs. 22%). Still, most in both groups express strong disapproval of his broader record.
Ideologically, AAPI adults are more favorable toward left-leaning ideas: 57% view capitalism positively, followed by 51% for the progressive movement and 47% for liberalism. Despite pro-market leanings, 75% say the government should ensure affordable housing and more trust the public sector than private industry to manage housing costs.
When it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, only 37% of AAPI adults say it is an extremely or very important issue to them personally. Still, more sympathize with the Palestinians (39%) rather than with the Israelis (13%), while the rest sympathize with both equally (20%) or neither side (28%). Two-thirds of AAPI adults say Israel’s military response in Gaza has gone too far, compared with about half of the general public (66% vs. 49%).
