Léger: Trump’s Tariffs Don’t Resonate with U.S. Voters
New poll shows few Americans see tariffs as a national security issue, and most want limits on presidential power.
Exclusive Léger polling for 338Canada and Maintenant Media shows many Americans still see inflation as the top issue facing the country today — and most don’t buy the national security argument for tariffs on U.S. economic allies.
As Donald Trump once again places tariffs at the centre of his economic strategy, new U.S. polling from Léger conducted for 338Canada / Maintenant Média suggests the issue may have limited traction with voters and that Trump’s rationale for imposing tariffs is met with considerable skepticism.
When asked to name the most important issue facing the country, 28% of respondents said inflation, by far the most common response. That was followed by poverty (8%), healthcare (7%), and immigration (7%). Concerns such as housing affordability, government debt, and climate change also made the list.
Not on the list? Trade wars and trade deficits. And the opioid/fentanyl crisis? It’s the top concern for just 1% of respondents. It’s an important public health issue for many, no doubt, but not the political attention-grabber many on Trump’s team believe it is.
Who Should Call the Shots on Tariffs?
Under current U.S. law, the President can impose tariffs without congressional approval only in certain situations, such as for national security.
And yet, Trump’s entire trade and economic message seems centred on imposing new tariffs — including on Canadian goods, despite both countries being signatories to CUSMA (which bears Trump’s own signature).
This Léger poll also shows that Americans are not enthusiastic about giving presidents unilateral power on the matter. To the question: “"Under current U.S. law, the President can impose tariffs without congressional approval only in certain situations, such as for national security. In your opinion, who should have the authority to impose tariffs on foreign goods?”, only 20% of respondents chose the President.
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A slightly larger share (25%) favoured giving that power to Congress (which it is already supposed to hold in most cases), while a plurality of respondents (40%) preferred a shared role between both branches of government.
The preference for shared decision-making was consistent across most demographic groups. A plurality in all age brackets favoured splitting authority — including half of voters aged 18 to 34, the highest of any group.
Support for unilateral presidential control was highest among Republican voters (37%) and older Americans (26% among those 55+), but even within these groups, it remained a minority view. Notably, women were significantly less likely than men to support giving the President sole authority — 15% vs. 26%, respectively.
In short, few Americans want the White House to call the shots alone. The numbers suggest a lack of trust in executive discretion — perhaps informed by the chaotic tariff escalations of Trump’s first term and of the past few months.
National Security? Voters Don’t Buy It
As mentioned above, under U.S. law, the President can impose tariffs unilaterally only under limited circumstances, including national security. Trump has repeatedly leaned on this rationale — particularly when targeting China, Mexico, and the European Union..
But the Léger poll finds only 26% of voters believe the tariffs are primarily intended to address national security concerns.
A majority (51%) reject the claim outright, while another 23% say they are unsure.
These results are consistent across age groups, with majorities in every demographic rejecting the justification. Even among Republicans, just 44% believe Trump’s tariffs are about national security — a plurality, but hardly overwhelming. That leaves Trump’s core argument on shaky ground, with most Americans either unconvinced or unclear on the purpose of these proposed trade actions.
Divided Views on Tariffs by Country
When asked specifically about tariffs on major trade partners, public opinion was mixed — but once again, opposition tended to outweigh support.
The most divisive case was Canada, where 48% of respondents opposed tariffs, compared to 37% who supported them. Tariffs on Mexico and the European Union were also more unpopular than popular.
Only China bucked the trend: 47% supported new tariffs, while 39% opposed. This suggests that while Americans may support protectionism toward strategic rivals, they are less willing to punish traditional allies.
A Core Message on Shaky Ground
Taken together, the results of this Léger poll suggest that tariffs remain a politically fragile message for Donald Trump.
Most Americans do not see trade wars/deficits as a top concern. Most do not believe that tariffs are necessary for national security. And most don’t want the President to act alone.
That doesn’t mean the issue will disappear — but it does suggest that Trump’s aggressive trade agenda may play better on the campaign trail among partisans than with the broader electorate. To be continued.
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Find the full Léger report here.