Trump Gains Support on Transgender Issues, Poll Finds/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A new AP-NORC poll shows about half of U.S. adults support President Trump’s handling of transgender issues, despite overall approval ratings around 40%. Americans are split on key transgender policies, especially those involving youth. Trump’s directives face legal pushback, yet many voters back his stances on gender identity and sports participation.
Trump and Transgender Policy Quick Looks
- About 50% approve Trump’s transgender policy stance
- Support higher than Trump’s overall job approval
- Two-thirds agree gender is defined at birth
- Support low for trans youth medical care coverage
- Divided opinions on teachers disclosing gender identity
- Court battles ongoing over military and sports bans
- Most Democrats more supportive than general public
- Many remain neutral on controversial issues
- Trump orders ban transgender girls from women’s sports
- Medical groups say gender is not binary
Trump Gains Support on Transgender Issues, Poll Finds
Deep Look
Trump Gains Support on Transgender Issues, But Youth Policies Divide Americans
WASHINGTON — A new AP-NORC poll reveals that nearly half of U.S. adults approve of President Donald Trump’s handling of transgender issues, giving him a relative boost in a policy area that has become central to his administration’s agenda.
While Trump’s overall approval hovers around 40%, his approach to transgender matters — especially on gender identity and government definitions of sex — has struck a chord with a significant segment of voters, particularly Republicans and social conservatives.
But the poll also shows that support splinters when it comes to policies affecting transgender youth, particularly around gender-affirming care and school accommodations.
Most Americans Side with Trump on Gender Identity
Roughly two-thirds of U.S. adults agree with Trump’s position that a person’s sex is determined at birth. Among Republicans, support for this view is overwhelming. However, Democrats are divided: about half agree with the scientific consensus that gender and sex are separate, while others align with Trump’s more rigid classification.
This perspective contradicts major medical associations such as the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recognize gender as a spectrum and support gender-affirming care as medically necessary for some.
Public Divided Over Specific Policies
Despite strong sentiments on gender identity, Americans are less unified on individual policies:
- Military service: Just under 40% support allowing transgender individuals to serve in the military, while a similar number remain neutral, and 25% oppose it.
- School disclosure: 40% back policies requiring teachers to report students identifying as transgender or nonbinary to their parents. Opposition and neutrality are evenly split.
- Bathroom access: A majority oppose allowing transgender students to use school bathrooms that align with their gender identity — a policy currently restricted in at least 14 states.
Gender-Affirming Care for Youth Lacks Support
The most contentious issue? Medical coverage for gender-affirming treatments — especially for minors:
- Two-thirds oppose government programs like Medicare and Medicaid covering gender-affirming care for those under 19.
- Support rises slightly for coverage of adults, but half still oppose it.
One of Trump’s recent executive orders blocks federal insurance from paying for youth treatments such as hormone therapy or surgeries. That policy is now in legal limbo, with courts ordering temporary protections for care providers.
Neutrality Reflects Complexity and Uncertainty
For many Americans, transgender policy remains a complex and unfamiliar area:
“It’s very important to me that everyone understands their dignity… but I also worry about long-term regret,” said Schuyler Fricchione, a Virginia mom and devout Catholic, reflecting ambivalence that mirrors many voters’ internal struggles.
The poll shows many Americans haven’t fully formed opinions on transgender military service, public school policies, or healthcare funding. The large number of neutral responses signals that the topic remains emotionally charged yet not fully understood by the broader public.
LGBTQ+ Voices Push Back
Among those more firmly decided are members of the LGBTQ+ community, like Isabel Skinner, a political science professor in Illinois:
“There really doesn’t seem to be any basis of reality for the fear of transgender people,” said Skinner, who supports bathroom access and anti-discrimination laws.
Democrats overall are more supportive of transgender rights than the general population, but even within the party, divides remain, particularly over medical treatment and parental notification.
Legal and Political Implications Ahead
Many of Trump’s transgender-related orders, including bans on military service and youth healthcare, face ongoing legal challenges. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to weigh in on several key cases in the coming months, including state-level bans on youth gender-affirming care.
Meanwhile, Trump continues to highlight these policies as key campaign issues, touting them as part of his “common sense” approach that resonates with his conservative base.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.