New Poll Reveals Growing Unease with Executive Overreach

A shocking new Reuters/Ipsos poll released September 11, 2025, reveals that Americans are increasingly uncomfortable with President Trump’s unprecedented expansion of executive power. The survey shows growing concern over his deployment of military troops to American cities and attempts to control economic policy through extraordinary measures that challenge traditional democratic norms.

The poll findings paint a picture of a nation grappling with fundamental questions about the limits of presidential authority and the health of American democracy itself.

The Numbers Tell a Troubling Story

The Reuters/Ipsos survey found that Trump’s overall approval rating stands at just 42%, with a substantial majority of 56% disapproving of his presidential performance. More significantly, the poll reveals specific concerns about his wielding of unprecedented executive power that previous presidents have avoided using.

“The findings suggest that a substantial majority of the public favors limits on presidential power and does not approve of Trump’s efforts to shatter longstanding norms,” the Reuters report stated.

Military Deployment Raises Constitutional Questions
Perhaps most concerning to Americans is Trump’s deployment of federal agents and soldiers to Democratic-run cities including Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and Chicago. This represents an extraordinary use of executive power that critics argue crosses traditional boundaries between federal and local authority.

The administration has justified these deployments as necessary to combat crime and illegal immigration. However, the moves have drawn sharp criticism from local Democratic leaders and sparked protests in affected cities.

Economic Control Attempts Worry Voters
Beyond military deployment, Trump has also attempted to seize control of various aspects of the economy through executive action. These efforts include:

Aggressive tariff strategies that have spooked stock markets
Direct intervention in business operations
Unprecedented federal oversight of local economic policies
According to the latest polling data, only 36% of Americans approve of Trump’s economic stewardship, with just 30% backing his handling of the cost of living for households.

Historical Context of Presidential Power

American democracy has long relied on the principle of separation of powers, with Congress, the courts, and the executive branch serving as checks on each other’s authority. Trump’s current actions represent a significant departure from these traditional constraints.

Previous presidents have generally sought Congressional approval for military deployments within U.S. borders and have worked within existing legal frameworks for economic policy. Trump’s approach of bypassing these traditional channels has raised alarm bells among constitutional scholars and everyday Americans alike.

Public Reaction Across Party Lines
What makes these poll numbers particularly significant is that concern about Trump’s expansion of power appears to cross party lines. While specific breakdowns weren’t provided in the available data, the broad disapproval suggests that even some Republicans are uncomfortable with the president’s approach.

The unease reflects deeper concerns about:

Constitutional limits on executive power
The role of federal versus local government
Long-term implications for American democracy
Precedents being set for future presidents

Crime Statistics vs. Federal Response

Interestingly, Trump’s military deployments come at a time when crime rates in many targeted cities have actually decreased in recent years. This disconnect between the administration’s justification and actual crime data has contributed to public skepticism about the true motivations behind these unprecedented actions.

The Reuters reporting noted that “crime rates overall have shrunk in recent years” in cities where federal forces have been deployed, raising questions about proportionality and necessity.

Economic Impact of Power Expansion
Trump’s attempts to control economic policy through executive action have also shown mixed results. The U.S. job market appears increasingly unstable, with recent reports suggesting that job growth was stalling even before Trump began implementing his aggressive tariff policies.

A Tuesday report revealed that the U.S. economy likely created 911,000 fewer jobs in the 12 months through March than previously estimated, indicating broader economic challenges that executive overreach may be exacerbating rather than solving.

What This Means for American Democracy

The poll results reveal a nation at a crossroads, grappling with fundamental questions about the nature of presidential power in a democratic society. The majority disapproval of Trump’s expanded authority suggests Americans still value constitutional limits and democratic norms, even when promised enhanced security or economic benefits.

Looking Forward: Implications and Consequences
The current situation raises several critical questions:

Constitutional Precedent: What precedents are being set for future presidents?
Congressional Response: Will Congress assert its constitutional role as a check on executive power?
Judicial Review: How will courts respond to these unprecedented uses of presidential authority?
Public Engagement: Will voter concern translate into political action?

A Call for Democratic Vigilance

The Reuters/Ipsos poll serves as a wake-up call about the fragility of democratic institutions and the importance of public vigilance in protecting constitutional principles. The fact that a majority of Americans express unease about Trump’s expansion of presidential power demonstrates that democratic values remain strong among the populace.

However, polls alone cannot protect democracy. Citizens must remain engaged, informed, and ready to hold their elected officials accountable through the democratic process. This includes staying informed about constitutional issues, participating in elections at all levels, and supporting institutions that serve as checks on executive power.

The current moment demands that Americans move beyond passive concern to active engagement in protecting the democratic principles that have served the nation for over two centuries. The stakes are too high, and the precedents being set too dangerous, for anything less than full civic participation.