ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Just over a month into Donald Trump’s second presidency, 45% of South Carolinians approve of the way the president is handling his job. Of those who expressed an opinion – excluding those who are not sure – 53% approve, according to the latest Winthrop Poll.
Elon Musk – a prominent figure in the Trump administration – is seen as favorable among 38% of South Carolinians. Forty-one percent view him as unfavorable. Republicans and Democrats are strongly divided over Musk.
With the 2026 gubernatorial race on the horizon, South Carolinians are most familiar with names such as Nancy Mace and Alan Wilson out of six potential candidates. Over half of South Carolinians are very or somewhat familiar with Mace, the current congresswoman from South Carolina’s 1st Congressional district, and 39% are familiar with Wilson, the current attorney general for South Carolina.
The following are more GENERAL POPULATION results from the survey of South Carolinians:
· 39% support tariffs on imports from rivals like China but not allies like Canada; 28% oppose and 33% neither support nor oppose.
· 25% are stocking up on items they think will cost more if the US enacts tariffs on imports.
· 48% of Republicans believe tariffs will lead to more jobs in the US; 16% of Democrats say the same.
· 75% support deporting immigrants who are in the country illegally.
· 56% oppose quickly deporting detained immigrants, which can involve separating families or sending people to countries other than their country of origin.
· 55% oppose deporting immigrants that came to the US illegally as children.
· Approval ratings among all respondents: President Donald Trump: 45%; Governor Henry McMaster: 43%; Senator Tim Scott: 42%; Senator Lindsey Graham: 34%.
For more extensive results, commentary and methodology, go here.
Results of the GENERAL POPULATION from the survey are of 1,220 (weighted) South Carolinians and have a Margin of Error of +/-2.81%.
The survey was conducted online between February 21 and March 5, 2025. Data are weighted by sex, race, age, and education.
The Winthrop Poll is conducted and paid for by Winthrop University.
For additional information or to set up an interview with Poll Director Scott Huffmon, contact Judy Longshaw at longshawj@winthrop.edu or 803-323-2404 (office) or 803-984-0586 (cell).
