Terra Goodnight · March 5, 2025

Survey Results: Trump’s Attacks on Diversity Programs Are Unpopular with Ohio Voters

A recent audience understanding survey powered by GrowProgress and conducted by Innovation Ohio reveals that President Trump’s efforts to eliminate diversity programs in government, schools, and nonprofits aren’t gaining support with Ohio voters. The survey of 398 registered voters conducted from February 25-27 found that despite strong backing from his core supporters, Trump’s actions are not resonating with much of the broader public.

While Trump’s base continues to support his stance on diversity programs, the general public is not on his side. When asked, “Do you support President Trump’s efforts to end diversity programs at the federal level and require nonprofit organizations and schools in your state that receive federal funds to stop any programs they offer that promote diversity and equity?” 41% of Ohioans said they support the move, while 44% oppose it, with just 15% unsure. This split shows that Trump’s position is far from popular across the state, with even some of his typical supporters questioning his approach.

Opposition to Trump’s attacks on diversity programs is particularly strong among key voter groups that are crucial to his success in Ohio. Independents, a key swing group, show a 12-point net negative response, while younger voters (18-34) also overwhelmingly reject his position, with a 37-point net negative response. This broad opposition across these important groups signals that Trump’s attacks on diversity programs are not only unappealing to Democrats but also alienating independent and young voters who were once vital to his winning coalition. 

Even some Trump supporters express reservations, with one saying, “He might take the power he has too far,” and another stating, “He is inexperienced and only doing things to benefit the wealthy.” We saw similar concerns expressed by Trump supporters in a survey conducted in late January. One Trump voter, a white woman, responded to our inquiry about early Trump administration actions telling us “I don’t think he should have fired the people in the diversity departments”. These concerns show that even within his own base, there is growing discomfort with his unilateral approach to cutting government programs.

In addition to opposition to Trump’s move to cut programs that promote diversity and equity, our survey also revealed strong sentiment against his approach to funding cuts more broadly. When asked, “Thinking about funding for federal government programs that were approved by Congress and past presidents, do you think Trump should have the power to cut funding and effectively cancel these programs via executive order or should Trump have to get Congress’s approval before cutting funding for these programs?” 60% of Ohioans believe Congress should have the final say, including large majorities of Democrats and independents. Notably, even over a third of Trump’s own voters oppose him on this issue, with 35% saying Trump should not have the power to cut funding unilaterally.

Even some of Trump’s supporters have reservations about his approach. One respondent stated, “He is doing things that are not good for America,” while another worried that, “Cuts will be made in areas that are important to running the country.” Others voiced concerns that Trump, like his advisor Elon Musk, “might not know what to really do” or that “he’s too impulsive” in his decision-making. These concerns reflect broader unease about the long-term impact of cuts to essential services and the concentration of power in the hands of one person, rather than through a more democratic process in Congress.

Trump’s attacks on diversity programs and his disregard for Congressional input on funding decisions may prove politically risky. While his base may continue to back him, the broader electorate—including independents and younger voters critical to his past success—appears to be pushing back. The less popular his policies become, the more his overall popularity wanes, which in turn weakens his ability to secure full support from Congress. This makes it more difficult for him to push through his divisive agenda, creating an opportunity for progressives to advocate for policies that prioritize the public good and ensure that decisions about critical programs remain in the hands of the people, not one unchecked individual.

1. IO utilized the GrowProgress Audience Understanding Survey in which 398 registered voters in Ohio were surveyed from February 25 to February 27, 2025. The sample was weighted to accurately reflect Ohio’s demographics, including age, education, gender, party affiliation, and race. Of the total sample, 219 respondents were matched to a voter file to ensure accurate representation of likely voters. The survey included both quantitative and qualitative questions, with a margin of error of ±5%.
2.  Audience Understanding Survey of 598 registered Ohio voters conducted January 27-29.