From August 29 to August 31, 2025, we surveyed Americans on certain political personalities, voting intentions, international relations, and view on world leaders.
Highlights include…
Political Identity and Voting Patterns
When asked who they would vote for in the 2028 presidential election, decided voters were nearly split: 48% chose the Democratic candidate, 46% chose the Republican candidate, and 6% opted for someone else. Democrats perform strongest in the Northeast (63%), while Republicans lead in the South (54%) and among older voters (52%).
When looking at potential nominees, Republican voters clearly prefer J.D. Vance (50%), while others like Rubio or Cruz remain far behind. However, in the full electorate, almost four in ten (38%) say they don’t know yet.
On the Democratic side, Kamala Harris (30%) leads among democratic voters, followed by Gavin Newsom (24%). Still, over one in three voters remain undecided (36%).
In head-to-head matchups, Newsom would edge out Trump (48% vs 44%), tie with Vance (47% vs 46%), and beat Rubio (49% vs 44%).
Opinion and Approval of Trump and Vance
Donald Trump’s image is still negative but improving. 39% hold a favorable view, compared to 48% unfavorable. Currently, 39% approve of the way Donald Trump is handling his job, while 50% disapprove. JD Vance remains less known nationally. 34% view him favorably, 39% unfavorably, and one in five do not know enough about him (21%).
Most Americans do not support awarding Trump the Nobel Peace Prize. Only 23% agree he deserves it, while 54% say no. Republicans are split (51%), but Democrats overwhelmingly reject the idea (7%).
International Relations and Trade
When asked about the United States’ closest ally, Americans mostly cite Great Britain (17%), followed by Israel (14%) and Canada (12%). Still, large shares say “none” (18%) or “don’t know” (24%). Democrats are more likely than Republicans to see Canada as the closest ally (19%).
Canada is generally seen as a strong trade partner. Two-thirds (66%) describe the relationship as good or very good, and only 9% call it bad. Democrats are more likely than Republicans to describe Canada as a “good” partner (80%).
Opinion of World Leaders
Western leaders receive the most positive ratings. Mark Carney (33%), Emmanuel Macron (30%), Claudia Sheinbaum (29%), and Keir Starmer (29%) rank highest. At the bottom, only 12% have a good opinion of Xi Jinping and 10% of Vladimir Putin.
