A new Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll, conducted August 20–21, 2025 among 2,025 registered voters, paints a nuanced picture of public reaction to President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Washington, D.C.—and its impact on his approval rating.

The results scrolled across cable news: “54% SUPPORT TRUMP’S D.C. NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT.” In living rooms from Arizona to Maine, residents debated. Some cheered, believing that Trump’s hands-on approach was overdue. On talk radio, callers said the chaos of modern cities called for a firm hand. Even among Democrats, nearly one in three said, “He’s right—something has to be done.”

President Trump’s approval has stabilized at 47%, up 3 points over the previous month, with the poll […]